HUNDREDS of new jobs will be created on Tyneside thanks to the region’s competitive edge, a minister has declared.
Rail Minister Theresa Villiers yesterday highlighted a Siemens factory in Hebburn, South Tyneside, as a key reason why the Government had chosen a consortium led by the German firm to build 1,200 new carriages on the Thameslink commuter route in the South East of England.
Siemens envisages up to 2,000 jobs will be created with around 600 highly-skilled roles involved in making train components – including up to 300 at the plant in Hebburn. The jobs will come online from the end of 2013. Mrs Villiers said there were signs of a “renaissance” in the train-building industry in the North East – a point echoed by Siemens, which said new jobs in the supply chain would give the industry “critical mass” to compete on the world stage.
The latest news comes after a consortium led by Japanese firm Hitachi announced it would build a new train plant in County Durham after winning a multi-billion-pound contract to build a new inter-city fleet.
Speaking to The Journal, the Minister said: “It is really good news for the North East demonstrating again the real strength of manufacturing and its ability to compete with the best in the world.
“I really think the North East can lead on this kind of train-related hi-tech jobs. I think today’s announcement demonstrates how competitive the North East is in this area of manufacturing.”
She added: “It is appropriate given the role the North East played in the birth of the railways. We are seeing something of a renaissance in relation to train manufacturing in the North East.”
The rail minister said the Siemens bid represented “the best value for money for taxpayers” as a row blew up over the defeat of rival company Bombardier – which has 3,000 employees at Derby.
