51�Թ�

Rolls Royce beat two American consortiums in the competition, Holtec, GE Hitachi.

A gap in orders at Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe site, in County Durham, had sparked fears over the future of the site and its roughly 700 employees.

The contract to build the five-car class 80X Hitachi electric or bi-mode trains was agreed between FirstGroup, Hitachi and Angel Trains, with delivery expected to begin in 2027.

Hitachi Rail's chief director of UK & Ireland, Jim Brewin, described the deal as a "positive step forward".

The chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, which represents businesses, told BBC Look North the decision gave Hitachi "welcome breathing space".