HUNDREDS more train building jobs are heading to the North-East after workers again pipped Midlands-based rivals to a lucrative Government-led order.

Siemens expects to create about 300 skilled jobs at its factory in Hebburn, South Tyneside, and hundreds more across the region's supply chain, as part of the consortium which beat Bombardier for the £6bn Thameslink project.

It is the second bitter blow suffered by Derby-based Bombardier in recent months. The firm lost out to Hitachi to build a new generation of express trains, which will be made at the Japanese firms new factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

The ongoing revival in the regions train building sector also includes the announcement earlier this week that Darlington engineers Henry Williams has won almost 1m-worth of orders to upgrade sections of the UK rail network.

Siemens has been named as preferred bidder to build 1,200 carriages to relieve over-crowded London commuter routes, and build new depots at Three Bridges near Crawley in West Sussex, and at Hornsey in North London.

Transport Minister Theresa Villiers hailed the recent revival in the birthplace of train building.

"The announcement is good news for passengers in the South, and good news for jobs in the North-East," she told The Northern Echo. "There has been some really positive moves of late in train manufacturing for this region, which is one of the North-Easts iconic sectors. It is only appropriate that the birthplace of the railways is strengthening its manufacturing base.

"I think this announcement confirms yet again that the North-East is providing a really competitive environment, and is potentially a real success story for UK manufacturing."

Siemens said that it was delighted with the decision, while Bombardier admitted it was "extremely disappointed".

Mrs Villers added: "This was a tough procurement process and Siemens came out as offering the best value for money. I think that is real credit to their facilities in the North-East."

Siemens will use its plant in the region where it currently makes components for the renewable energy sector to make train control equipment. It plans to start recruiting staff at the end of 2012. The company currently employs about 2,000 workers in the North-East. Steve Scrimshaw, managing director for Siemens rolling stock business in the UK, said: "The announcement today is a credit to the hard work and dedication of those involved.

"Not only will it create jobs in the North-East but it will also establish a sustainable facility that can compete for more work from firms in this sector in the future."

The first of the new Desiro City trains, which are lighter, more reliable and energy efficient than current models, will go in to service in 2015.