WITH brand new trains to be introduced on south Wales lines in the coming months, a pair of Newport politicians visited to factory in Llanwern where they are being built.

Jessica Morden and John Griffiths, who represent Newport East in Westminster and the Assembly respectively, visited the CAF factory, where the construction of the new trains is under way.

The company, which won the contract to build the trains for the new Wales and Borders franchise and South Wales Metro, invested £30 million, with the help of the Welsh Government, to get the site up and running.

Ms Morden said: "I was delighted to see CAF’s brand new factory at Llanwern. This is an exciting development for Newport.

"It’s particularly pleasing as its bringing hundreds of high quality manufacturing jobs to Newport in a state-of-the-art new facility.

"CAF’s role in the Welsh Government’s new ambitious transport plans means that more than half of all new trains on the Welsh network will be assembled right here in Newport - contributing towards this significant modernisation of the Welsh railways."

And Mr Griffiths said: “CAF were successful in their bid to produce trains for the newly-awarded Wales and Borders franchise. The factory in Llanwern will create 300 new jobs for Newport and beyond.

"The visit was very interesting, and I was glad to receive an update on the factory’s progress and the work which will be undertaken there. I am sure the factory will become a real asset for our city and the UK manufacturing industry as a whole.”

The company's director Richard Garner said: "It was a pleasure to welcome both Ms Morden and Mr Griffiths to our new factory. The new manufacturing facility is key to CAF's growing business operations within the UK and delivering manufacturing contracts the company has already secured."