TransPennine Express to invest £1 billion into battery-electric trains across North

Rail operating company, TransPennine Express, has announced a £1 billion investment in a new fleet of battery-electric trains that will operate on key intercity routes across the North of England.

The train operator has signed contracts with rail manufacturer Alstom for 29 new five-car battery-electric trains, alongside maintenance services, depot facilities and charging infrastructure.

The investment forms a key part of the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade programme, and will operate on routes between Liverpool, Manchester, York, Hull, Scarborough and Saltburn, as well as Manchester Airport.

Chris Jackson, Managing Director at TransPennine Express, said:

“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.”

James Richardson, Managing Director at Transpennine Route Upgrade, said:

“TRU is transforming train travel across the north, and today’s announcement is a major step for the programme as we work to deliver a railway that better connects our communities. The £1 billion investment reflects a genuine commitment to transforming rail travel across the region and beyond.”

The new fleet, called Adessia Stream, will become Britain’s first mainline battery-electric trains. They will be funded by rail investor Rock Rail and built at Alstom’s historic Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, Britain’s only end-to-end train manufacturing facility, where they will support 350 highly skilled manufacturing jobs and thousands more positions across the firm’s supply chain.

Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK at Alstom said:

“This agreement is a landmark moment for Britain’s railway, and we couldn’t be prouder that the country’s first mainline 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. “Beyond the benefits to passengers, this investment will support more than 350 highly skilled jobs in Derby and over 5,500 roles across our UK supply chain, helping create opportunities, develop skills and drive economic growth in communities across the country. 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.” 

As well as replacing part of the existing Class 185 fleet, the new trains will have overall increased capacity and feature a range of customer-focused improvements, including more luggage space, power and USB-C charging at every seat, Wi-Fi, passenger information screens, dedicated cycle storage and quieter, more comfortable interiors. 

A major focus of the project is accessibility. The trains have been designed with level boarding at every doorway, helping passengers board and leave trains independently at the vast majority of stations on the network.  

Each train will also include three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas and buggy spaces.