A TRAINBUILDER will have nearly 1,000 staff at its North-East plant in weeks and is eyeing fresh contracts to strengthen its market position, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Hitachi Rail Europe is busy recruiting workers as production of next generation rolling stock for English and Scottish lines continues.

The Northern Echo exclusively revealed last month the company, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was creating an extra 150 posts to meet demand and build on an initial 730-job target.

Bosses have now confirmed they expect to have in excess of 900 people in their plant after Christmas.

The business is making trains for the Great Western and East Coast Main Line routes under the Government’s Intercity Express Programme (IEP) and has also started manufacturing stock for Scottish routes, which will run on electrified lines between Edinburgh and Glasgow and take in Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane.

Darren Cumner, Aycliffe plant manager, said the company, which has formed a joint venture with Bombardier in an attempt to secure a contract to make thousands of London Underground cars, was not resting on its laurels.

He exclusively told The Northern Echo: “There are about 600 people at Aycliffe at the moment and we will continue to recruit.

“We are ploughing on with building trains for IEP and have started ScotRail too.

“There will always be an award cycle and a bidding cycle.

“The potential is there but we have to make high-quality trains.

“That is the key focus for us.”

Mr Cumner was speaking before Hitachi revealed it had taken on its 1,000th employee across its UK sites.

Emma Dixon, who has joined Aycliffe in a manufacturing role, hails from Spennymoor, in County Durham, and has previous industrial experience from working in electricals.

She added: “I’m really excited to be joining Hitachi; it’s a great opportunity for me.

“I’m thrilled to be the 1,000th employee and looking forward to a happy and rewarding career.”

Ms Dixon’s arrival fulfils the first part of Hitachi’s plans to have at least 2,000 people across Britain in the coming years.

Karen Boswell, managing director, previously told The Northern Echo the business will only continue to grow.

She added: “Producing topquality trains is in the DNA of the region.

“It’s pretty exciting stuff and we will be over 2,000 people strong across the country.”

Hitachi also has a contract to make stock for the TransPennine Express franchise, which links the North- East with Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.