A £1 billion order for a new fleet of battery-electric trains is set to provide a significant boost to UK manufacturing, with 29 trains due to be built at
Alstom’s Litchurch Lane facility in Derby under an agreement involving
TransPennine Express (TPE), rolling stock manufacturer Alstom and leasing company
Rock Rail.
The trains, which are expected to enter service from winter 2034, will operate on key routes across northern England, including Liverpool to Scarborough, Manchester Airport to Saltburn, and Manchester to Hull. While the investment is intended to improve rail services and increase capacity, it also represents one of the largest recent commitments to UK rail manufacturing.
According to the project partners, the programme will support more than 350 jobs at Alstom’s Derby plant, as well as 40 apprenticeships and placements for 40 students. A further 6,000 jobs are expected to be supported across the wider UK supply chain, spanning manufacturing, engineering, digital systems and rail technology.
The trains will be built at Derby’s historic Litchurch Lane Works, which has been involved in train design and manufacturing since the 19th century. The site remains Britain's only facility capable of designing, engineering, building and testing complete trains.
The investment also forms part of the government's plans for Great British Railways (GBR), the new body intended to integrate rail infrastructure and train operations under a single strategic direction. Ministers have presented the train order as an example of how closer coordination between infrastructure upgrades and rolling stock procurement could support both passenger improvements and domestic industrial activity. The Department for Transport said the project demonstrates how rail investment can be used to strengthen UK manufacturing capabilities while supporting the wider modernisation of the network.
The new fleet will comprise battery-electric Adessia Stream trains, which are expected to become the first battery-powered trains to operate on a UK main line route. The technology will enable the trains to run on both electrified and non-electrified sections of the network, reducing reliance on diesel traction and supporting wider rail decarbonisation objectives.
The programme is also expected to generate substantial demand throughout the domestic supply chain, creating opportunities for suppliers involved in components, systems integration, electronics, interiors and specialist engineering services.
Rob Whyte, managing director UK at Alstom, said: “The country's first main line battery-electric trains will be designed and built in Britain. The fleet will transform journeys across northern England while showcasing the very best of British engineering, innovation and advanced manufacturing.
“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.”
Alongside the manufacturing programme, the trains are expected to contribute to wider infrastructure improvements being delivered through the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU). The wider project aims to increase rail capacity across the North by around 30% by the early-to-mid 2030s.
Journey times are also expected to improve, with reductions of up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York once the upgraded infrastructure and new rolling stock are in operation.
Chris Jackson, managing director at TransPennine Express, said: “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.”
The deal also highlights the role of private finance in delivering major rail projects. Under the agreement, Rock Rail will purchase the trains and lease them to TransPennine Express.
Mark Swindell, founder of Rock Rail, said: “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.”
The train order forms part of a wider programme of investment in the Transpennine corridor. The TRU project has already generated more than £1 billion of spending with local businesses and reports creating £2.6 billion of social value across northern communities.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, added: “This significant investment embodies how GBR will deliver better journeys for people while backing British business. Passengers will be able to wave goodbye to overcrowded, delayed diesel trains and step onboard faster electric trains which are fit for the future.”
Pic: An Alstom Adessia Stream train