New £1bn battery trains to serve North from 2034
Alstom to build 29 battery-electric Adessia Stream trains in Derby, supporting thousands of UK jobs.
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A £1 billion government investment will fund 29 new battery-electric trains for TransPennine Express services. The trains, to be built in Derby, are set to enter service from winter 2034. This initiative aims to improve journey times and support British manufacturing.
Manufacturing and Job Creation
UK to build 29 new battery-powered trains in Derby
The Adessia Stream fleet, the first battery-powered model for long-distance UK journeys, will enter service in 2034.
Alstom's Litchurch Lane Works in Derby will construct the new fleet. The project is expected to support over 350 jobs at the Derby site, along with 40 apprentices and 40 students. A further estimated 6,000 jobs across the wider UK supply chain will also benefit, with an estimated £360 million generated for the UK economy, according to the Department for Transport.
The battery-electric Adessia Stream trains represent the first of their kind for a UK main line route. They will provide emission-free travel on non-electrified sections of the railway, offering passengers quieter, smoother, and more reliable journeys. Improvements are also planned for accessibility, luggage space, and onboard Wi-Fi.
Service Improvements and Routes
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Passengers travelling between Manchester and Leeds may see journey times cut by up to 10 minutes. Those travelling between Manchester and York could experience reductions of up to 14 minutes. The new trains will operate on routes connecting Liverpool Lime Street with Scarborough, Manchester Airport with Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly with Hull.
The Department for Transport stated that the new trains will help the TransPennine Route Upgrade deliver its ambition to increase capacity by 30% by the early to mid-2030s, providing thousands of additional seats daily across the Pennines.
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.
Chris Jackson, Managing Director at TransPennine Express
Construction of the trains is scheduled to begin in 2028, with services expected to commence from winter 2034. The Department for Transport indicated that the investment demonstrates how Great British Railways can deliver improved services, support skilled employment, and strengthen the UK's railway infrastructure for the future.
What Happens Next
The trains are scheduled to be built from 2028. Entry into service is planned for winter 2034. Further details on specific route schedules and operational changes will be released closer to the service commencement date.
Questions this report answers
+How much is being invested in the new trains?
The UK government is investing approximately £1 billion in 29 new battery-electric trains for TransPennine Express services. This investment is intended to improve rail travel across the North of England and support British industry.
+Where will the new trains be built and how many jobs will they support?
The trains will be built at Alstom's Litchurch Lane Works in Derby. The project is expected to support over 350 jobs at the Derby site and an estimated 6,000 jobs across the UK supply chain.
+When will the new trains enter service and what improvements can passengers expect?
The trains are scheduled to enter service from winter 2034. Passengers can expect reduced journey times, emission-free travel on non-electrified sections, quieter and smoother rides, improved accessibility, more luggage space, and onboard Wi-Fi.
WE FILE
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The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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