Alstom has signed contracts worth more than £1 billion with TransPennine Express (TPE) for the supply and long-term maintenance of a new fleet of battery-electric trains. The British-designed and built trains will transform rail travel across northern England and support the delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
The agreements combine a rolling stock contract worth approximately £800 million for 29 five-car battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) with maintenance contracts valued at around £200 million. The fleet will be delivered from 2032 and will support the ongoing decarbonisation of one of Britain’s most important rail corridors.
The order represents the first deployment of Alstom’s Adessia Stream platform in the UK and will deliver Britain’s first mainline battery-electric train fleet, combining high performance, operational flexibility and sustainable mobility.
“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,” said Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK at Alstom.
“The fleet will transform journeys across northern England while showcasing the very best of British engineering, innovation and advanced manufacturing”.
He added: “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.”
Devised specifically for the needs of long-distance regional travel, the 121-metre-long trains will operate at speeds of up to 110mph and provide around 300 seats per train, including a First Class area with catering facilities. As the first new-build trains to be operated by Great British Railways, they will also offer passengers modern amenities including Wi-Fi, air conditioning, power and USB-C charging at every set, enhanced luggage provision, real-time passenger information systems, CCTV, dedicated cycle storage, and quieter, more comfortable interiors.
A defining feature of the fleet is its level boarding design at every door, helping deliver a more inclusive and accessible passenger experience while reducing station dwell times.
Each train will also include three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas, and buggy storage.
Furthermore, the trains’ battery technology provides emission-free operations on non-electrified sections of railway. Charging infrastructure will be installed by Alstom at Hull, Scarborough, and Saltburn, allowing the Adessia fleet to recharge efficiently during normal operations and supporting TPE’s ambition to operate a fully decarbonised network. Installation of this infrastructure will be a UK-first on the mainline network and follows a similar successful deployment by Alstom in Ireland.
As the home of the Adessia platform, the new trains will be designed, engineered, built and tested at Alstom’s historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works – the UK’s only end-to-end train factory.
The Adessia rolling stock order from TransPennine Express will support more than 350 highly skilled jobs in Derby and over 5,500 roles throughout Alstom’s UK supply chain. Manufacturing is expected to begin in 2028, with the project set to generate at least £360 million in spending with British suppliers.
The maintenance contract – which will support over 100 roles – will run for an initial eight-year period, with the potential for a further eight-year extension, helping maximise fleet availability, reliability and performance throughout its operational life.
Alstom will train at around 40 apprentices and around 40 T Level students over the contract, which is also set to benefit over 1,000 community members each year through the company’s established local engagement framework.
“This landmark investment embodies how GBR will deliver better journeys for people while backing British business. These ambitious upgrade plans mean passengers can wave goodbye to overcrowded, delayed diesel trains and step onboard faster electric trains which are fit for the future,” said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
“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.”
The project showcases Alstom’s ability to deliver a complete railway solution, combining rolling stock, maintenance, depot provision and charging infrastructure within a single integrated programme.
“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,” said Chris Jackson, Managing Director at TransPennine Express.
He added: “Britain has a proud railway heritage, and this project puts the UK at the forefront of the next generation of cleaner rail technology.”
The new battery-electric fleet will operate on services connecting key destinations across northern England, including Liverpool, Manchester, York, Hull, Scarborough and Saltburn, supporting economic growth and providing passengers with a greener and more comfortable travel experience. The new trains – funded by rail investor Rock Rail – will replace part of TPE’s existing Class 185 fleet.
“I would like to thank TransPennine Express, Alstom, and the TRU programme for entrusting Rock Rail with funding and delivering this important project,” said Mark Swindell, founder at Rock Rail.
He added: “At Rock we care about improving the passenger experience; we feel strongly this project will deliver a step-change in experience, journey times and environmental benefit.”
A three-year research programme and a £35 million investment culminated in the development of Adessia for the UK – the next evolution of the Aventra train platform, proven at scale across England, with fleets already delivering over 18 billion passenger miles.
With flexible traction options and a lightweight design, Adessia Stream trains deliver required capacities while reducing life-cycle cost. Adessia Stream is a train with accessibility built in, enabling unassisted boarding at 85% of existing UK railway station platforms due to level boarding at every door along the full length of the train – reducing the additional investment needed to adapt platform heights.
Image credit: Alstom
