ED MILIBAND has shown his support for The Northern Echo’s Back On Track campaign as Hitachi’s attempt to build a £7.5bn train factory in the region was raised in the Commons.

The Labour leader posed with a copy of the Echo’s special supplement, calling on the Government to bring train-building back to the birthplace of the railways.

Meanwhile, in the Commons, Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson urged Transport Secretary Philip Hammond not to further delay a decision that would create more than 8,000 jobs in County Durham.

The Labour backbencher said: “The Intercity Express Programme (IEP) must go ahead if we are to see private sector growth in the region.

“The economic case has been made. More jobs, greater tax income and the biggest investment in the region since Nissan. Hitachi has shown great faith in the North-East.

It is time for the Government to do the same by giving the go ahead to the IEP, originally proposed by the last government.”

Mr Hammond said he will announce how he plans to replace Britain’s ageing fleet of InterCity 125s early in the new year, having put Hitachi’s bid on hold last month.

The delay will allow the Department for Transport to weigh up Hitachi’s bid for hybrid electric/diesel trains against the alternative of coupling electric trains with diesel locomotives.

The Northern Echo revealed that the alternative would almost certainly involve buying from abroad – instead of creating thousands of British jobs.