Chronological coverage updated 10th September 2026 22:00.
Update 1 · 10th September 2026
Alstom Awarded £1 Billion Contract for Northern Battery-Powered Train Fleet
Downing Street has announced an agreement to build a new fleet of 29 battery-powered trains designed to overhaul mainline rail transport across northern England. Manufactured by French rail company Alstom at its Litchurch Lane works in Derby, the project is structured to expand rail network capacity by 30% over the coming decade while replacing diesel rolling stock. Sources: theguardian.com.
The overall contract value is approximately €1.2bn (£1bn), comprising €930m for rolling stock manufacturing and €230m for an initial eight-year maintenance agreement. — according to Alstom, as reported by theguardian.com.
Manufacturing will commence in 2028, with the trains scheduled to enter public service under TransPennine Express in 2034. The 121-metre Adessia Stream model will operate at speeds up to 110mph, representing the first battery-powered trains deployed for long-distance mainline travel in the UK. According to government figures, the project will sustain 350 jobs in Derby and nearly 6,000 positions across the broader national supply chain. Sources: theguardian.com.
According to theguardian.com, Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said: “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.”.
Infrastructure Upgrades and Travel Times
The new fleet will deliver direct journey time reductions across northern routes, cutting travel times between Manchester and Leeds by up to 10 minutes, and between Manchester and York by up to 14 minutes. To support operations on non-electrified stretches of track, specialized fast-charging infrastructure will be installed along stations in Hull, Scarborough, and Saltburn. Sources: theguardian.com.
According to theguardian.com, Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary said: “wave goodbye to overcrowded, delayed diesel trains and step onboard faster electric trains which are fit for the future”.
According to theguardian.com, Rob Whyte, Managing director of Alstom UK said: “The fleet will transform journeys across northern England while showcasing the very best of British engineering, innovation and advanced manufacturing.”.
In addition to zero-emission battery propulsion on non-electrified routes, the fleet will feature level-access boarding and onboard wifi, forming a core operational component of the Great British Railways national transition. Sources: theguardian.com.
- Alstom will construct 29 Adessia Stream battery-powered trains in Derby under a €1.2bn (£1bn) deal.
- The fleet enters service in 2034 on TransPennine Express routes, supporting 6,000 British supply chain jobs.
- Charging hubs in Hull, Scarborough, and Saltburn will enable emission-free operations across non-electrified lines.
Sources: theguardian.com