THE company that makes Japanese bullet trains has been named as one of three organisations bidding to build the next generation of high speed trains.

Hitachi Europe is up against Alstom-Barclays Rail Group and the Express Rail Alliance a consortium involving four companies, including Bombardier and Angel Trains.

East Coast Mainline passengers will be the first to experience the new trains when a pre-series batch is introduced on the rail link from 2012.

Full production of the fleet will follow, with trains entering full service from 2015, starting on the East Coast line and on the Great Western line.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said that the Intercity Express Programme would create a new design of train that would be longer and capable of carrying significantly more passengers than current stock.

They would also be lighter and more environmentally friendly than current long-distance trains.

They will replace the ageing HST fleet set to be inherited by new East Coast Mainline operator National Express Group from GNER, sharing the same top speed of 125mph, but with the ability to accelerate faster.

The invitation to tender will be issued to the shortlisted bidders in autumn this year.

Proposals will then be received from bidders in summer 2008, with the award of the contract in winter 2008/09.

A Government White Paper has already identified the need to increase capacity on the overcrowded East Coast Mainline, hence the plan for longer, bigger trains.

A draft version of the East Coast Mainline Route Utilisation Strategy, published by Network Rail earlier this year, suggests that demand from passengers for North-East rail services could rise by as much as 44 per cent by 2016.

:: Open access operator Grand Central, which is planning new services between London and the North-East, said in April it was ordering a batch of Chinese Polaris trains, potentially capable of speeds of up to 140mph.