Organisers of the Hitachi Rail Amazon Park Open Day said they were overwhelmed by the number of businesses that attended today's event.

More than 400 delegates descended on the Excel Centre in Newton Aycliffe to hear about the multi-million pound contracts that are up for grabs to build a new train assembly plant.

The three stages of the project were outlined in some detail. Stage one involves an assessment of the local archaeology. Stage two will be the commissioning and building of the plant itself and the third phase will see a rail test track and work with Network Rail to link the site with the Shildon Branch Line.

Some of the key details to emerge from today's session were:

• The project involves the development of 31.5 acres of land.

• The factory will be 42,700sqm.

• The test track will be 1.1km in length.

• The factory will have the capacity to make up to 35 vehicles per month over two shifts.

• In total around 500 people will be employed to get the project off the ground.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson, who made the opening address reassured any doubters that delays to the Government signing off the project were due to its complexity. He was confident that the project set to transform this part of the region was well on track.