300 jobs on Siemens rail contract - graduate jobs

There may be graduate engineering jobs heading to the North East, where Siemens needs 300 new staff for a trains contract.

The engineering heavyweight is part of a consortium that has won work on the huge Thameslink scheme. There are already 100 people working at its South Tyneside site, where train carriages will be constructed for the gigantic revamp of London's rail infrastructure.

Siemens will build and look after 1,200 pieces of rolling rail stock and two depots. Its managing director for that area of the business in the UK, Steve Scrimshaw, said: "We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder. The new and highly-innovative Desiro City Train, designed specifically for the UK commuter market, will deliver significantly better reliability and energy efficiency, as well as vastly improved passenger access and comfort."

It is the second bit of related good news for the region this year after Hitachi also announced its plant in County Durham will construct carriages for super-fast trains.

The Thameslink project is Government funded and Transport Minister Theresa Villiers said it was "proof of the Government's commitment to investing in Britain's future" as she revealed the role of Siemens.

Copyright Press Association 2011