EUROPE'S leading excavator manufacturer is hoping to dramatically speed up the rebuilding of the country's rail network.

Komatsu UK, of Birtley, near Gateshead, has launched a modified version of its PC128US crawler excavator for use in railway maintenance work at a time when the UK rail network is under intense public scrutiny.

Komatsu's UK distributor, Marubeni-Komatsu, has already arranged the sale of 35 machines at a cost of £5m, creating 15 jobs at the County Durham site. Another 42 orders are expected to be confirmed in the near future.

The product development and order win also means that Komatsu will build a test track and assembly process at the plant.

Designed and built at Birtley by Komatsu's working gear division, the machine is specifically for use in the UK in conjunction with Komatsu's Awazu plant in Japan and Somerset company Rexquote.

The machine operates in a narrow area, which means that neighbouring tracks can still be used, leading to a reduction in disruption to services while repairs are carried out.

Kevin McStea, manager of the working gear division at Komatsu UK, said: "We are delighted that this company and industry first has been designed, developed, and will soon be manufactured at Birtley.

"The positive response to the new machine is a huge vote of confidence for the entire workforce at Birtley.

"This news underlines the fact that Komatsu is at the forefront of excavator design and manufacture."

Komatsu UK's Birtley plant, established in 1985, currently employs about 560 people.