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.

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.’

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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