A TRAIN builder has officially unveiled a locomotive to be made at its North-East factory.

Hitachi Rail Europe, which is moving into an £82m plant at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has shown off its Class 800 series.

The first trains built in the region will be 122 Class 800 models, destined for the Great Western Main Line, which runs services via Bristol to south Wales, from 2017, and the East Coast Main Line the following year.

Bosses say of 122 trains, twelve are being made at a factory in Kasado, Japan, with the remaining 110 due to be manufactured at Aycliffe.

The rolling stock will be shipped to the UK for testing in early 2015.

They will be used on the Government's Intercity Express Programme and modernise the UK’s ageing 40-year-old high-speed train fleet, alongside sister Class 801 trains.

The Japanese firm’s Merchant Park factory will employ 730 North-East workers when it opens, who will build more than 860 carriages from 2016.

A spokeswoman said: “The Class 800 series trains now scheduled for delivery will be equipped with underfloor diesel engine generators to run not only electrified routes but also non-electrified routes.

“Furthermore, the diesel engine generator can be removed, facilitating a smooth transition to electric operations as the electrification programme expands.”

Last month, The Northern Echo reported how Hitachi was in line to seal a lucrative Scottish contract, after being named preferred bidder to supply 70 engines and 234 carriages to new ScotRail operator Abellio.

The firm said the 100mph next generation commuter trains would be built at its Aycliffe base.

As well as building the new Aycliffe plant, Hitachi is building maintenance depots at sites including Bristol and Doncaster, and is refurbishing and upgrading depots across the Great Western and East Coast lines.

Hitachi also previously announced plans to move its global rail headquarters from Japan to London.