A TRAINBUILDER has tested its new train on North-East lines for the first time, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Hitachi Rail Europe has driven rolling stock on tracks at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, in a move bosses say represents a landmark moment in their £82m venture.

The engine, a Class 800, will eventually deliver services on the East Coast and Great Western lines as part of the Government’s InterCity Express Programme (IEP) to revamp high-speed routes.

Hitachi says it will now carry out further tests on the 800, which will be accompanied by a sister 801 version on the East Coast and West Coast, as it prepares to supply hundreds of IEP carriages and engines from Aycliffe.

Its fleet is due to begin services on Great Western lines from next year, with its East Coast trains due to start operations in 2018.

Bosses say the stock, which was assembled at Hitachi’s Kasado site, in Japan, before being shipped to the UK, was put through various tests on the company’s 1km County Durham track.

A spokeswoman told The Northern Echo development work was being ramped up in the region.

She said: “IEP train production is picking up pace and commissioning of the adjoining test track has reached a key milestone.

“A Class 800 train made a maiden run, which was first to drive on the track at the facility as part of the process.

“It was initially shunted before being de-coupled to run under its own power up and down the track after which it was shunted back into the test house.

“Testing of Class 800s will continue over the coming weeks and months at Aycliffe.”

Hitachi’s Class 800 and 801s will be followed by other models at the 730-job plant, including 100mph commuter trains bound for Scotland.

The Japanese firm has a contract to supply 70 engines and 234 carriages for operator Abellio, with the stock made up of 46 three-car and 24 four-car trains, known as Class 385s.

They are expected to run from late 2017 on electrified lines between Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as routes covering Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane.

Earlier this year, the company also confirmed it will make 125mph trains to connect the North-East with Manchester and Scotland, by delivering 95 carriages for FirstGroup’s TransPennine Express franchise.

The first are expected to leave Aycliffe in 2019 for use later in the year.

Speaking about its TransPennine work, Karen Boswell, Hitachi Rail Europe’s managing director, said: “We have brought rail manufacturing back to its birthplace in the North-East, so it is entirely fitting Aycliffe is where these new trains will be built.

“Building on contracts to deliver trains for the East Coast and Great Western Main Lines and commuter trains for Scotland, we are on track to transform rail travel for millions of customers.”

Hitachi's Aycliffe plant officially opened last year, with hundreds of guests, including Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne, leading the celebrations.