The government has announced that 29 battery-electric trains for TransPennine Express worth £1 billion are to be built by Alstom in Derby.

Construction of the fleet of Adessia Stream units is set to begin in 2028, and they should enter service from 2034, replacing some of the Siemens Class 185 units which were built in Germany for First TransPennine Express 20 years ago.

The government said journey times will be cut by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York. The new trains will help fulfill Transpennine Route Upgrade’s target to boost capacity by 30 per cent.

The deal will also support more than 350 skilled jobs as well as providing opportunities for 40 apprentices and 40 students. Another 6,000 jobs in the supply chain will be supported, and the contract will generate around £360 million for the wider economy.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: ‘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.

‘It’s exactly what Great British Railways is all about – taking back control of the basics and getting Britain believing again.’

Alstom’s managing director UK Rob Whyte 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.’

The fleet will be leased from Rock Rail, and the transaction has been financed by Aberdeen Investments.

Rock Rail CEO Mark Swindell said: ‘As a person who grew up in the northeast of England, I am delighted that Rock Rail has today driven over £1 billion of investment into trains for the north of England linking Liverpool through Manchester and York to the northeast coastal towns. This is after my founding of Rock Rail over 12 years ago and developing five projects with over £3 billion invested to fund rolling stock for services in and out of London.’

Ben Plowden of the Campaign for Better Transport said: ‘This is positive news for jobs and the economy in the Midlands. And with more accessible trains, speedier journeys and thousands more seats, it's great news for passengers in the north of England too. In fact, we all benefit when better rail journeys tempt more people on board, from clearer roads, cleaner air and a more stable climate. However, it is important that in celebrating these new bimode trains - which are undoubtedly better than diesel - we don't forget about the need to electrify our rail network.’

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