MORE than 1,000 business people have registered interest in the massive opportunities on offer to supply a multi-million pound train assembly project in the region, it emerged last night. Organisers have been forced to lay-on extra sessions to cope with unprecedented demand from firms wishing to attend a supply chain event when details of the contracts up for grabs from the construction of Hitachi's factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham will be unveiled. Delegates representing over 600 businesses will attend an open day, being organised by County Durham Development Company (CDDC), that will also offer an insight into the opportunities on offer when manufacturing of the next generation of Hitachi "super express" trains begins at the Amazon Park site.

The project is set to create 500 direct jobs by 2015 and thousands more in the supply chain, offering North-East firms a welcome shot in the arm as they attempt to recover from the economic downturn.

The new trains will be used on the East Coast and the London to South Wales main lines, to replace aging rolling stock.

Managing director of Hitachi Rail Europe, Alistair Dormer, will speak at the event, which takes place on May 26 at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe, along with Councillor Neil Foster of Durham County Council and Geoff Hunton from site owners Merchant Place Developments. Mr Dormer has already confirmed that the Japanese train-builder will hand contracts to North-East based suppliers wherever possible; mirroring Nissans supply chain policy in Wearside.

Stewart Watkins, CDDC managing director, said: "The Hitachi rail development represents a massive opportunity for North-East businesses, and this event will go some way towards equipping them with the understanding of the project to help them secure supply chain contracts. "The number of businesses attending this event really does demonstrate the impact this project could have on the regional economy, and shows that we have the skills, ambition and talent here in Durham, and the North-East, to make this development a real success."

The event, the first of its kind, follows the confirmation by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond in March, that Hitachi had been given the green light to press ahead with its plans to develop a 450,000sq ft purpose-built factory at Newton Aycliffe.

Businesses interested in signing up to hear more about the project, or to find out about other Hitachi Rail events should visit www.hitachirailproject.co.uk.