IN the countdown to the General Election, David Cameron highlighted the need for the North-East economy to be balanced by greater private sector investment.

With our region being hit hardest by Government cuts due to its heavy reliance on the public sector, we need the coalition Government to act on the Prime Minister’s words and support the case for train-building to return to the Birthplace of the Railways.

The Northern Echo, which owes its own existence to the region’s pioneering railway heritage, has this week launched a campaign to secure the go-ahead for a train-building factory in County Durham.

Japanese manufacturer Hitachi is leading a consortium bidding for a £7.5bn contract for the InterCity Express Programme – and Newton Aycliffe is the preferred site.

The contract is on hold, pending the Government’s spending squeeze, and it is vital that the North-East comes together in supporting the campaign to persuade ministers to say “yes” to a scheme that would create thousands of jobs.

We are heartened by Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond’s response yesterday to questions about the contract by Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson.

Mr Hammond has not only agreed to meet a delegation of North-East MPs and business leaders but he has revealed that Japanese lobbying for this region has taken place at a high level.

This is a golden opportunity to create another Nissan, with hundreds directly employed, and thousands more jobs being created in the supply chain.

The North-East has the skills, the heritage – and it has the need.