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Alstom secures £1bn deal for new battery-electric train fleet
TransPennine Express has announced a £1 billion investment to introduce a new fleet of 29 battery-electric Adessia Stream trains to northern England. The contract, which includes long-term maintenance, was awarded to Alstom. The trains are scheduled for construction at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby starting in 2028, with service expected to begin in 2034.
Funded by rail investor Rock Rail, the project aims to transform regional travel by reducing journey times—potentially by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and 14 minutes between Manchester and York. The new fleet is expected to increase capacity on the Transpennine Route by 30% by the mid-2030s. These trains will be the first of their kind used for long-distance mainline services in the UK, capable of running without emissions on non-electrified stretches of the network.
The investment is projected to support approximately 350 jobs in Derby and nearly 6,000 roles across the UK supply chain. Passenger amenities will include improved accessibility with level boarding, dedicated wheelchair spaces, Wi-Fi, USB-C charging, and cycle storage. Key routes served will include connections between Liverpool, Manchester, York, Hull, and Scarborough.
Entities
Alstom · Andy Burnham · Derby · Great British Railways · Heidi Alexander · Rock Rail · TransPennine Express
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The TransPennine Express fleet will be manufactured at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane facility in Derby. www.railexpress.co.uk · www.railwaymagazine.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] The investment will support more than 350 local jobs and nearly 6,000 jobs across the UK supply chain. www.railexpress.co.uk · www.railwaymagazine.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Adessia Stream trains are scheduled for production starting in 2028, with service entry expected by the end of 2034. www.railexpress.co.uk · www.railwaymagazine.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] The UK government is investing £1 billion into 29 new battery-electric trains. www.railexpress.co.uk · www.railwaymagazine.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] New trains will reduce travel times by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York. www.railexpress.co.uk · www.railwaymagazine.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Capacity across the Pennines could increase by 30% by the mid-2030s. www.railexpress.co.uk · www.railwaymagazine.co.uk