Alstom to build new battery-electric train fleet
The government says the work will support thousands of jobs across the UK.
Alstom to build new battery-electric train fleet
The new battery-electric TransPennine Express trains are due to begin service in 2034
Work on the UK’s first battery-electric trains for long-distance main line services is scheduled to start in 2028, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said.
The 29 new Adessia Stream trains are expected to enter service in 2034 and will be manufactured at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane factory in Derby.
The government said the investment of almost £1bn would support more than 350 jobs at Alstom, plus a further 6,000 jobs across the UK supply chain.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the new trains would provide "faster, more reliable journeys to the north and thousands of British jobs for the next generation".
Alstom’s UK managing director said the fleet would "transform" travel across northern England.
He added: "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."
The DfT said the trains would help meet the Transpennine Route Upgrade’s goal of increasing capacity by 30%, with thousands of extra seats a day across the Pennines by the early to mid-2030s.
They will operate between major destinations across the north, including Liverpool Lime Street and Scarborough, Manchester Airport and Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly and Hull.
The DfT also said journey times will be reduced by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and by up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York.
The government added that the trains will be purchased by Rock Rail and leased to TransPennine Express.
Alstom, which says it has the largest rolling stock train manufacturing site outside China, won a £370m contract in 2024 to build 10 new London Elizabeth line trains.
That came less than three months after a redundancy consultation placed 1,300 jobs at risk at its Litchurch Lane factory, which dates to 1876.
Rob Whyte, Alstom’s UK managing director, described the latest deal as a "landmark moment for Britain's railway".
He said: "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."
Step-free boarding is being promised as part of the new fleet.
In a statement, the DfT said journeys on the new fleet would be "quieter, smoother and more reliable", while also offering "improved accessibility, more luggage space and onboard Wi-Fi".
Step-free boarding - the "elimination of gaps between the train and platform" - is also being promised as part of an accessibility commitment, along with three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas and cycle and buggy storage on each train.