Passengers traveling across the North of England are set to benefit from shorter journey times and improved rail services following a £1 billion investment in new trains, officials announced. The funding will support the introduction of 29 new battery-electric trains for TransPennine Express, with journey times expected to be reduced by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds, and by as much as 14 minutes on routes between Manchester and York.
The Department for Transport (DfT) stated that these new trains will also increase rail capacity across the Pennines by approximately 30 percent by the early to mid-2030s. The battery-electric Adessia Stream trains will be manufactured by Alstom at its Derby facility. The project is projected to generate around £360 million in wider economic benefits and sustain more than 350 skilled jobs, along with 40 apprenticeships and 40 student placements at the Derby plant. In addition, an estimated 6,000 jobs will be supported throughout the broader British supply chain connected to the contract.
The investment is being provided by rolling stock company Rock Rail, which will purchase the trains and lease them to TransPennine Express. This arrangement means the funding does not come directly from taxpayers.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, described the deal as a key step toward delivering “faster, more reliable journeys to the North” and creating "thousands of British jobs for the next generation.” He emphasized the impact of unreliable services on passengers, citing missed appointments and employment disruptions caused by cancellations and delays.
The initiative aligns with the government’s wider Great British Railways plan, aimed at transitioning rail services into public ownership. Burnham characterized the project as emblematic of the scheme’s goal to “take back control of the basics and get Britain believing again.” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander highlighted the shift away from overcrowded diesel trains toward faster, electric models that “are fit for the future.”
These trains mark a first for the UK, as they will be the country’s inaugural battery-electric trains operating on a mainline route. This technology allows for emission-free travel even on sections of railway infrastructure that have yet to be electrified. Battery-only trains have been in use since 2016 in countries such as Japan and Germany, with Japan being the first to deploy lithium battery-powered trains.
Chris Jackson, managing director of TransPennine Express, noted that the new fleet will provide increased seating capacity and improved accessibility features, including level boarding to assist wheelchair users, passengers with pushchairs, and travelers with luggage.
Despite the investment in rolling stock, progress on other rail technologies remains slower. For example, the rollout of the European Train Control System—an advanced digital signalling technology designed to reduce delays by replacing traditional lineside signals with in-cab displays—is behind schedule. Network Rail has recently informed lawmakers that a full nationwide implementation may not be achievable until 2060, raising questions about the pace of broader rail infrastructure modernization.