A DATE has been set for a North-East delegation to meet a Government Minister to put forward the case for bringing train building back to the birthplace of the railways.

A group of North-East business, union and political leaders will meet Transport Secretary Philip Hammond on September 21.

The announcement comes as companies and organisations throughout the region pledge their support to the Back on Track campaign.

Last night, Darlington Borough Council became the latest group to back the scheme.

The delegation aims to persuade the minister to award the InterCity Express Programme (IEP) contract to Hitachi.

The Japanese company has indicated it would build a factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, to make the trains if it won the contract.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson welcomed the development.

He said: “I am delighted that the secretary of state is prepared to meet myself and a delegation of business leaders and trade unions and other representatives from the region to put the case and explain why the IEP is vitally important for the North-East economy.”

The Back on Track campaign has been launched by The Northern Echo, together with Durham County Council, the North East Chamber of Commerce, Northern Trades Union Congress, Mr Wilson and the Unite union.

As well as Darlington Borough Council, the Federation of Small Businesses, PPG Aerospace, Great Aycliffe Town Council and Chilton Town Council have also pledged their support.

Kevin Mitchell, from PPG Aerospace, in Shildon, said: “It will not directly benefit PPG, but we wanted to support the campaign because it will benefit the region which, in turn, indirectly benefits us.”

Simon Hanson, the North- East policy manager of the Federation of Small Businesses, said his organisation was supporting the proposal because 800 direct jobs would be created by the scheme, with a further 7,000 in the supply chain, many in small businesses.

Darlington Borough Council leader Councillor John Williams said: “We would welcome the establishment of the Hitachi Rail Europe manufacturing plant at Newton Aycliffe.”

■ To support the Back on Track campaign, companies and organisations can send their logos to newsdesk@nne.co.uk. Logos will be posted online.