HITACHI’S bid to manufacture 800 metro trains in the region has been backed by two MPs.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson and Ashford MP Damian Green have written to Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP, to support the company's bid for the South Eastern Franchise.

Hitachi currently employ 1,000 people at their train building facility in Newton Aycliffe, within MP Wilson's consistency in County Durham, while the company also has a depot in Ashford, MP Grren's constituency.

The South Eastern franchise tender was launched in November 2017.

In March 2018, bids were submitted by Abellio, Stagecoach and Govia.

Hitachi Rail has bid to build new metro trains with Abellio and Govia.

In their joint letter to the minister at The Department of Transport, the MPs said: "Hitachi’s engagement with Govia has been positive and their re-securing the contract is the train manufacturer’s best opportunity to supply new trains.

"We believe Hitachi’s price to build the new metro trains is competitive - meaning they can deliver value for money without compromising on performance."

The pair said Hitachi would build the majority of the 800 metro trains in the UK at Newton Aycliffe, producing 32 vehicles per month and could safeguard jobs at the site until 2022.

Both MP Wilson and MP Green said they would be happy to meet MP Grayling to "explain further the benefits of the Hitachi bid, not only to the economy of the South-East, but also the North-East".

The letter continued: "Hitachi Rail has bid to supply Traffic Management Systems and digital systems to Abellio and Govia.

"They are one of a few companies with an operating TMS product in the UK, which is improving reliability and allowing more trains to operate on the Thameslink route.

"For over a decade, Hitachi has had a strong presence on the South Eastern route, including building the £60 million Ashford depot, and their Javelin trains carry up to 270,00 people per month.

"Since opening at Ashford, Hitachi has spent over £3million with local suppliers, created 128 long-term jobs and 12 apprenticeships. They have worked with local schools to promote STEM and sponsored Central Ashford Community Forum.

"Hitachi’s train and maintenance operation at Ashford has proved very reliable and they have an excellent partnership with Southeastern, which is owned by Govia, having delivered trains ready for service 99.7 per cent of the time.

"This has resulted in 93 per cent of passengers being Very Satisfied with the Javelin service. The high-level of train maintenance and reliability would continue if Hitachi Rail was successful in the bid."

They added: "Building South Eastern trains would both consolidate and grow the Nort-East rail supply chain that Newton Aycliffe has helped to create and allow Hitachi to continue to support the South Durham University Technical College and work with other local schools.

"We therefore believe Hitachi Rail should be the train manufacturer of choice for the South Eastern route.

"Although the tender does not specify that trains should be built in the UK, Hitachi is committed to building the metro trains in Britain and using UK suppliers. This will safeguard jobs at Newton Aycliffe and benefit other members of the UK and North-East rail supply chain."