DERBY: Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has signed contracts worth €1.2 billion with TransPennine Express for the supply and long-term maintenance of a new fleet of battery-electric trains, the company announced.

The agreements combine a rolling stock contract worth approximately €930 million for 29 five-car battery-electric multiple units with maintenance contracts valued at around €230 million. The fleet will be delivered from 2032 and will support the decarbonization of one of Britain’s most important rail corridors.

The order represents the first deployment of Alstom’s Adessia Stream platform in the UK and will deliver Britain’s first mainline battery-electric train fleet. The trains will be designed, engineered, built and tested at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works, the UK’s only end-to-end train factory.

“This agreement is a landmark moment for Britain’s railway, and we couldn’t be prouder that the country’s first mainline battery-electric trains will be designed and built in Britain,” said Rob Whyte, managing director UK at Alstom. “The fleet will transform journeys across northern England while showcasing the very best of British engineering, innovation and advanced manufacturing.”

Whyte added that the investment will support more than 350 highly skilled jobs in Derby and over 5,500 roles across Alstom’s UK supply chain.

The 121-meter-long trains will operate at speeds of up to 110 mph and provide around 300 seats per train, including a First Class area with catering facilities. They will offer Wi-Fi, air conditioning, power and USB-C charging at every seat, enhanced luggage provision, real-time passenger information systems, CCTV, dedicated cycle storage and quieter, more comfortable interiors.

A defining feature of the fleet is its level boarding design at every door, which Alstom says will deliver a more inclusive and accessible passenger experience while reducing station dwell times. Each train will include three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas and buggy storage.

The trains’ battery technology provides emission-free operations on non-electrified sections of railway. Charging infrastructure will be installed by Alstom at Hull, Scarborough and Saltburn, allowing the fleet to recharge during normal operations. Installation of this infrastructure will be a UK-first on the mainline network.

Manufacturing is expected to begin in 2028, with the project set to generate at least £360 million in spending with British suppliers. The maintenance contract, which will support over 100 roles, will run for an initial eight-year period with the potential for a further eight-year extension.

Alstom will train at least 36 apprentices and 36 T Level students over the contract, which is also set to benefit over 1,000 community members each year through the company’s local engagement framework.

“This landmark investment embodies how GBR will deliver better journeys for people while backing British business,” said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. “These ambitious upgrade plans mean passengers can wave goodbye to overcrowded, delayed diesel trains and step onboard faster electric trains which are fit for the future.”

Chris Jackson, managing director at TransPennine Express, called the project a “transformational £1.2 billion investment in the future of rail travel across the North.”

The new battery-electric fleet will operate on services connecting key destinations across northern England, including Liverpool, Manchester, York, Hull, Scarborough and Saltburn. The trains, funded by rail investor Rock Rail, will replace part of TPE’s existing Class 185 fleet.

“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,” said Mark Swindell, founder at Rock Rail.

A three-year research program and a £35 million investment culminated in the development of Adessia for the UK, the next evolution of the Aventra train platform. With flexible traction options and a lightweight design, Adessia Stream trains deliver required capacities while reducing life-cycle cost, according to Alstom.

Alstom, which has more than 20 years’ experience in battery technology, was the first rail manufacturer to have both hydrogen and battery trains in commercial operation. The company employs 87,800 people in 61 countries and generated revenues of €19.2 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.