CAMPAIGNERS hoping to land a multi-million pound train-building contract for the region will travel to London today to urge the Government to make a decision about the project.

A delegation of North-East business representatives and trade union officials are due to meet Secretary of State for Transport Theresa Villiers to discuss the Intercity Express Programme.

The group will ask the minister for a progress report on the project – to build the country’s next generation of highspeed trains.

Preferred bidder, the Hitachi-led Agility Trains consortium, has indicated it would build its factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, if it won the contract.

Campaigners say awarding the contract to Agility would help to rebalance the economy by creating 800 private sector jobs directly and a further 8,000 in the supply chain.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson said he was pleased the minister had agreed to meet the delegation, but he was concerned that, so far, no decision about programme had been taken.

He said: “We were told in November to expect a decision in January, and now it is February.

“The continuing delay is causing uncertainty. The people in Newton Aycliffe and the North-East deserve an answer, one way or the other, sooner rather than later.

“I hope the minister can provide us with some indication as to when we can expect a final decision.”

The delegation will include Kevin Rowan, regional secretary of the Northern TUC, Martin McTague, the Federation of Small Businesses’ regional policy chairman, James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, and Stephen Catchpole, managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited.

Mr Rowan said the worsening economic situation meant it was more important than ever to invest in growth and job creation.

He said: “Securing the Hitachi Intercity Express Programme for the region would represent a considerable boost to manufacturing in the region and send a clear message that we are a region – and country – willing and able to work our way into a productive future.”