The trains will be built at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane Works in Derby from 2028 and are expected to enter service from the end of 2034. The project is part of the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade and will support rail connections between major destinations across northern England.
New Fleet to Reduce Journey Times and Increase Rail Capacity
The new Adessia Stream fleet will cut journey times by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and by up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York. According to the UK government, the trains will also help support a planned 30% increase in capacity across the Pennines by the mid-2030s, with thousands of additional seats available each day.
The trains will operate on routes including Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough, Manchester Airport to Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly to Hull. They are designed for long-distance regional travel and will be five-car units measuring 121 metres in length, with capacity for around 300 passengers per train.
The new fleet will replace part of the existing Class 185 fleet used by TransPennine Express. According to Alstom, the trains will run at speeds of up to 110 mph and will include features such as passenger information systems, CCTV, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, power and USB-C charging points.
The trains will use battery technology to operate without emissions on non-electrified sections of railway. Charging infrastructure will be installed at Hull, Scarborough and Saltburn, allowing the trains to recharge during normal operations.
Andy Burnham said the investment would address concerns about unreliable rail services. “I’ve lost count of the number of times someone has stopped me to tell me about the train that never came,” he said. “And when that happens, it means missed shifts, missed appointments, and missed opportunities.”
Derby Manufacturing Project to Support UK Jobs and Accessibility
The trains will be designed, engineered and built at Alstom’s Derby factory, supporting more than 350 jobs locally and thousands more through the UK supply chain. According to the Department for Transport, the project will support almost 6,000 roles across the country and generate around £360 million in spending with British suppliers.
The agreement includes contracts worth more than €1.2 billion, covering the production of 29 trains and long-term maintenance arrangements. The trains will be bought by rolling stock company Rock Rail and leased to TransPennine Express.
The fleet will include accessibility features aimed at making journeys easier for passengers with different mobility needs. Each train will have level boarding at every door, three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas, and storage for cycles and buggies.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the investment showed how Great British Railways could improve services while supporting British industry. She said passengers would be able to move away from overcrowded diesel trains and use newer electric trains designed for future rail services.
Rob Whyte, managing director UK at Alstom, said the project represented the first deployment of the company’s Adessia Stream platform in the UK and that the country’s first mainline battery-electric trains would be designed and built in Britain. The new fleet is scheduled to begin construction in 2028, with services planned to start from winter 2034.
