Alstom to build 29 battery-electric trains in £1bn Derby deal

The UK’s first battery-electric trains for long-distance main line services will be built at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane factory in Derby, with work due to begin in 2028, the Department for Transport has announced. The 29 Adessia Stream trains are expected to enter service in 2034 under an investment of almost £1bn.

What is being built, and where?

The order covers 29 Adessia Stream trains, all to be assembled at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane site in Derby, which the company describes as the largest rolling stock manufacturing site outside China. Work is scheduled to start in 2028, and the fleet is due to enter service in 2034.

How many jobs does the investment support?

The Department for Transport said the investment of almost £1bn would support more than 350 jobs at Alstom and a further 6,000 jobs across the UK supply chain. The funding pledge was announced as the Fed and Bank of England weigh interest rate rises as oil prices surge.

Which routes will the trains serve?

The trains will run between Liverpool Lime Street and Scarborough, Manchester Airport and Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly and Hull. The Department for Transport said the fleet would help deliver the Transpennine Route Upgrade’s aim of increasing capacity by 30%, adding thousands of extra seats a day across the Pennines by the early to mid-2030s.

How much will journey times fall?

Journey times are expected to be cut by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and by up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York, according to the Department for Transport.

Who will own and operate the trains?

Rock Rail will buy the trains and lease them to TransPennine Express, the government said.

What has been promised on accessibility and onboard facilities?

The Department for Transport said journeys on the new fleet would be “quieter, smoother and more reliable”, with improved accessibility, more luggage space and onboard Wi-Fi. Each train is to offer step-free boarding through what the department described as the elimination of gaps between the train and the platform, alongside three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas and storage for cycles and buggies.

What is the history of Alstom’s Derby site?

Alstom secured a £370m contract in 2024 to build 10 new London Elizabeth line trains, less than three months after a redundancy consultation put 1,300 jobs at risk at the Litchurch Lane factory, which dates back to 1876. The UK announcement comes amid wider pressure on borrowing costs, after oil topped $105 as the Strait of Hormuz closure lifted borrowing costs.

What did the prime minister and Alstom say?

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the trains would deliver “faster, more reliable journeys to the north and thousands of British jobs for the next generation”. He added: “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.”

Rob Whyte, managing director UK at Alstom, called the agreement a “landmark moment for Britain’s railway” and said the fleet would “transform journeys across northern England while showcasing the very best of British engineering, innovation and advanced manufacturing”.

Frequently asked questions

When will the UK’s first battery-electric main line trains enter service?

The Department for Transport says the 29 Adessia Stream trains are expected to enter service in 2034, with work at Alstom’s Derby factory due to begin in 2028.

Which routes will the new Alstom trains run on?

They will run between Liverpool Lime Street and Scarborough, Manchester Airport and Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly and Hull.

Who is buying and leasing the new trains?

Rock Rail will buy the fleet and lease it to TransPennine Express, according to the government.

How many jobs will the near-£1bn investment support?

The Department for Transport says the investment will support more than 350 jobs at Alstom and a further 6,000 jobs across the UK supply chain.

With reporting from BBC News.

Stock image, not from the events described. Electric train at HM Factory Gretna — The Devil's Porridge Museum / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)