Alstom and Great British Railways have signed a £1bn deal that will see new battery-electric trains enter service with TransPennine Express.
29 battery-electric trains will replace the outgoing Class 185 trains
The new trains will support 350 jobs and will be built at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane works.
The Adessia Stream trains will be the first of their kind in the UK and are due to be built from 2028 and enter service from Winter 2034.
The new trains will cut journey times by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds with thousands of additional seats a day.
Alstom’s trains will serve Liverpool Lime Street, Scarborough, Manchester Airport, Saltburn, Manchester Piccadilly and Hull.
For accessibility, step-free boarding will be provided, malking it easier for wheelchair users and those with luggage and pushchairs.
Rock Rail are buying the trains and are leasing them to TransPennine Express.
Level boarding on the new TPE trains // Credit: Alstom / GBR
“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.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham
“From Alstom’s factory floor in Derby to supply chains across the country, this deal will deliver growth, jobs, opportunity and better transport links for generations to come.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander
“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, Managing Director at TransPennine Express
“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.
Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK at Alstom