UK Government has announced an around £1 billion investment in 29 new battery-electric trains for TransPennine Express, promising faster, more reliable and cleaner journeys across northern England while supporting thousands of jobs across Britain.
The new Adessia Stream trains will be built at Alstom’s historic Litchurch Lane Works in Derby from 2028 and are expected to enter service from winter 2034.
The project is being presented as a major step towards bringing track and train operations together under Great British Railways (GBR), while strengthening domestic manufacturing.
The investment will support more than 350 highly skilled jobs in Derby, alongside 40 apprenticeships and 40 student placements. It is also expected to support a further 6,000 jobs across the UK supply chain and generate around £360 million for the wider economy.
The new fleet is anticipated to cut travel times for passengers by up to 14 minutes between York and Manchester and up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds.
By the early to mid-2030s, the trains will help achieve the Transpennine Route Upgrade’s goal of increasing capacity by 30%, adding thousands of seats per day throughout the Pennines.
According to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the investment would address persistent reliability problems affecting passengers across the North.
“I’ve lost count of the number of times someone has stopped me to tell me about the train that never came. And when that happens, it means missed shifts, missed appointments, and missed opportunities. Today that starts to change. These 29 new trains will bring faster, more reliable journeys to the North, and thousands of British jobs for the next generation.”
Andy Burnham
He added, “it’s exactly what Great British Railways is all about taking back control of the basics and getting Britain believing again.”
The new fleet will operate on non-electrified sections of the railway, allowing emission-free travel on such lines. It will be the first main line battery-electric trains of its sort in the United Kingdom.
Increased luggage space, enhanced dependability, quieter and more seamless travel, and onboard Wi-Fi are all anticipated benefits for passengers.
Step-free boarding and the removal of spaces between trains and stations will improve accessibility. Each train will have two accessible restrooms, three wheelchair-accessible spots, family-friendly sections, and bike and buggy storage.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander added that the investment demonstrated how GBR could combine improvements for passengers with support for British industry.
“This significant investment embodies how GBR will deliver better journeys for people while backing British business. Passengers will be able to wave goodbye to overcrowded, delayed diesel trains and step onboard faster electric trains which are fit for the future.”
Heidi Alexander
The trains will serve several key routes across northern England, including Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough, Manchester Airport to Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly to Hull.
The investment will also support the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade, which has already delivered more than £1 billion of spending with local businesses and £2.6 billion in social value to northern communities.
The programme currently employs around 5,000 people and aims to provide 8,000 roles over its lifetime.
Building a Stronger British Manufacturing Sector
The contract will see the trains built at Alstom’s Derby facility, described as the world’s largest rolling stock manufacturing site outside China.
The project is expected to create opportunities across manufacturing, engineering, digital systems and train technology, extending beyond the direct jobs created at the Derby site to businesses throughout Alstom’s British supply chain.
Alstom UK Managing Director Rob Whyte indicated that the agreement represented a significant moment for the country’s railway industry.
“This agreement is a landmark moment for Britain’s railway, and we couldn’t be prouder that the country’s first main line battery-electric trains will be designed and built in Britain. The fleet will transform journeys across northern England while showcasing the very best of British engineering, innovation and advanced manufacturing.”
Rob Whyte
He added that, “as momentum builds behind strengthening UK industry and regional prosperity, this project is a powerful example of what can be achieved by investing in British design, British manufacturing and British talent.”
Moreover, TransPennine Express Managing Director Chris Jackson described the investment as a transformation of rail travel across the North.
“This is a transformational £1 billion investment in the future of rail travel across the North, delivering new trains for our customers as well as new infrastructure, new jobs and long-term economic benefits. Our customers will benefit from more seats and better accessibility, including level boarding.”
Chris Jackson
He added that, “Britain has a proud railway heritage, and this project puts the UK at the forefront of the next generation of cleaner rail technology.”
The trains will be purchased by Rock Rail and leased to TransPennine Express as part of an arrangement aimed at delivering cleaner and more efficient transport.
Rock Rail founder Mark Swindell noted that the project would significantly improve the passenger experience while delivering environmental benefits.
The investment, according to the UK government, therefore combines rail modernisation with an industrial strategy focused on British manufacturing, skilled employment and cleaner transport. With construction scheduled to begin in 2028 and passenger services expected from winter 2034, the new fleet is set to form a central part of the long-term transformation of rail services across northern England.
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