UK announces 29 battery-powered trains for northern England
The planned TransPennine Express fleet is due to be built by Alstom in Derby from 2028, with service expected from 2034.
The UK government has announced a planned order for 29 battery-powered Adessia Stream trains for TransPennine Express, in a contract valued by Alstom at more than €1.2 billion.
The trains are due to be built at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby from 2028 and are expected to enter service from 2034. Alstom says delivery is expected from 2032, reflecting a staged programme for the fleet.
Downing Street says the project will support 350 jobs in Derby and nearly 6,000 across the UK. The contract includes an initial eight-year maintenance agreement, with a possible further eight-year extension.
The government and Alstom project journey-time reductions of up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York. The government also says the trains will help increase rail capacity by 30 per cent over the next decade.
The fleet is planned to operate without emissions on non-electrified sections, with charging infrastructure proposed for Hull, Scarborough and Saltburn. The 121-metre trains are designed to run at up to 110mph and will include level-access boarding and onboard Wi-Fi.
The claims on journey times, capacity, employment and performance are projections. The government has presented the order as part of its Great British Railways programme and wider plans to expand rail capacity.
