Dutch transport giant Abellio (www.abellio.co.uk) has unveiled plans for a £1 billion investment in the West Midlands train network, and it has placed an order for more than 100 trains as part of a high-tech upgrade of the franchise, which covers routes in the West Midlands, as well as from London Euston to Crewe, and Liverpool to Birmingham.

Bombardier UK has won a major part of the contract to make the new longer trains at its factory in Derby, providing a big boost for local employment and the region’s transport services.

In total, 330 electric carriages will be assembled at the plant.

The announcement comes two months after a consortium of Abellio, Japan’s East Japan Railway Co and Mitsui won a 10-year contract to run the line.

Another 100 diesel cars will be built by the Spanish train and tram builder Grupo CAF.

A total of £680 million will be spent to increase capacity and improve journey times on the franchise, which became renowned for record delays to services under previous operator London Midland.

Abellio, which also operates the ScotRail, Greater Anglia and Merseyrail lines, said the overhaul will provide space for an extra 85,000 passengers on rush-hour services into Birmingham and London by 2020.