A FACTORY building the high-speed trains that will be serving Swindon in two years' time was officially opened this week.

The Prime Minister, Chancellor and Transport Secretary opened Hitachi’s new £82 million facility, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on Thursday.

Hitachi’s decision to move train manufacturing back to the North East comes just a few years after the government awarded them with the £5.7 billion Intercity Express contract.

The new train factory, the firm’s first in Europe, will build the next generation of trains for the East Coast and Great Western main lines, as well as the Scottish commuter trains.

The Government says the factory will create more than 700 direct jobs and support thousands more in the supply chain.

The new trains have been designed to revolutionise journeys through Swindon to Bristol, the Cotswolds, with more seats on each train, more services, reduced journey times and improved reliability.

The first train will enter passenger service on the Great Western line in 2017, while passengers on the East Coast will be able to enjoy their first new trains the following year.

Speaking at the opening of the factory Prime Minister David Cameron said: “This massive investment from Hitatchi shows confidence in the strength of Britain’s growing economy.

“This new train factory will not only provide good jobs for working people but will build the next generation of intercity trains, improving travel for commuters and families, as well as strengthening the infrastructure we need to help the UK grow.”

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “The state-of-the-art IEP trains that will be manufactured here will transform rail travel for countless passengers in the north east and south west.

“Not only will these trains allow us to operate more services, with more seats, and faster journeys, the improvements will also bring great opportunities for growth, generating hundreds of jobs in the local area and thousands across the country within the supply chain.

“We are investing record amounts in transport, not just to help people get around, but to help people get on.”

Hitachi’s £82 million investment was supported by a £4 million grant from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to help build the factory.