Passengers across the North will benefit from faster, more reliable journeys thanks to an around £1 billion investment in new trains, as the government puts passengers back at the heart of the railway.
The new fleet of 29 battery-electric TransPennine Express trains, set to be built at Derby’s historic Litchurch Lane Works, is a clear example of what Great British Railways can deliver by bringing track and train together.
In a major boost for British industry, the deal will support more than 350 highly skilled jobs in Derby, alongside 40 apprentices and 40 students, while backing a further 6,000 jobs across the UK supply chain and generating around £360 million for the wider economy.
Passengers will benefit from faster services too, with journey times cut by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York. The new trains will help deliver Transpennine Route Upgrade’s ambition to boost capacity by 30% with thousands of additional seats a day across the Pennines by the early to mid-2030s.
The battery-electric Adessia Stream trains, the first of their kind on a UK main line route, will provide emission-free travel on non-electrified sections of the railway.
Passengers will enjoy quieter, smoother and more reliable journeys, as well as improved accessibility, more luggage space and onboard Wi-Fi. The trains are due to be built from 2028 and enter service from winter 2034.
Together, the investment shows how Great British Railways can deliver better services for people, support skilled jobs and strengthen Britain’s railway for the future.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “I’ve lost count of the number of times someone has stopped me to tell me about the train that never came. And when that happens, it means missed shifts, missed appointments, and missed opportunities.
“Today that starts to change. These 29 new trains will bring faster, more reliable journeys to the North, and thousands of British jobs for the next generation.
“It’s exactly what Great British Railways is all about – taking back control of the basics and getting Britain believing again.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “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.
“From Alstom’s factory floor in Derby to supply chains across the country, this deal will deliver growth, jobs, opportunity and better transport links for generations to come.”