A train leasing firm has placed an order which is understood to be worth around £100 million with Derby's Bombardier for a fleet of new trains.
Porterbrook Leasing, which has its headquarters on Pride Park, is buying 80 Class 387 Electrostar vehicles from the Litchurch Lane firm.
All of the trains will be built in Derby and deliveries will start in October, next year, through to June 2017.
Porterbrook said it had placed its order to support the Department for Transport's push to increase capacity on the UK's rail network both in the short and medium term.
In a statement, the company said: "Porterbrook's investment decision embraces the initiative for the Midlands Engine for Growth and supports local skills and manufacturing jobs in the region.
"These new trains will help satisfy the future demand for mid-distance electric trains, which currently represent approximately 50% of all passenger trains in the UK.
"They will be required for the lines to be electrified in the near future and they will be used to alleviate higher-than-forecast passenger growth and overcrowding."
Bombardier's Electrostar trains are already widely used across the rail network within TSGN, Essex Thameside, South Eastern and soon Great Western franchises.
According to Porterbrook, a number of parties have already expressed an interest in leasing the trains which the firm has ordered from Bombardier.
These include Rail for London, as well as established operators and prospective bidders of upcoming franchises.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "This deal is fantastic news, both for the East Midlands' booming rail industry and for passengers, who will benefit from more British-built trains on the rail network in the future.
"Introducing more modern, high-quality trains is central to our commitment to give passengers better journeys and boost economic growth, with more than 3,700 extra carriages set to be introduced across the network by the end of 2019. It is great to see the industry leading the way."
The deal is a further boost for Bombardier's Derby factory, which is currently busy with the £1 billion Crossrail contract.
Source: DerbyTelegraph