Speaking to BBC Look North at the factory, the prime minister described its workforce as “world class” and said the deal had eased the worry felt by employees in recent months.

“I stood before them last time I was here and said, if we win the election and form a government, I give you my word we will do everything we can to try to make sure there’s a deal to fill that gap and take away that anxiety,” he said.

“It’s really good for train-building, it’s really good for the country but, on a human level, it’s so important for them, their families, the whole communities here that depend on those jobs.”

Asked what part the government had played in the private sector agreement, he said it had helped “setting the strategy, by being clear about the orders we need, to ensure those deals take place”.