UNITED KINGDOM —A major milestone in the modernization of Northern England’s passenger rail infrastructure has been reached following the agreement of dual contracts valued at over €1.2 billion for new rolling stock and long-term fleet support. Under the terms, TransPennine Express will acquire 29 five-car battery-electric multiple units built on the Adessia Stream platform, supported by an initial eight-year maintenance service agreement with potential extension options. Rollout of the new 121-meter passenger units is scheduled to begin in 2032, replacing existing diesel operations across key regional corridors including Liverpool, Manchester, York, Hull, Scarborough, and Saltburn.
Alstom is a global manufacturer and service provider specializing in rail transport solutions, including rolling stock, digital signaling, and maintenance infrastructure. TransPennine Express operates regional and intercity rail services across Northern England and Scotland, currently functioning under the public sector oversight framework of Great British Railways.
This initiative represents the first mainline deployment of battery-electric passenger trains in Great Britain. Beyond the vehicle supply, the comprehensive turnkey package requires the installation of dedicated line-side charging stations at Hull, Scarborough, and Saltburn to facilitate rapid operational recharging. Designed specifically to run on non-electrified track segments, the fleet features level-boarding capabilities across all doorways to streamline platform access and decrease station dwell times, while offering speed capabilities up to 110 mph and accommodating roughly 300 passengers per unit.
The investment delivers critical alignment with broader UK transport decarbonization targets, accelerating the phase-out of legacy diesel rolling stock along non-electrified routes. Financially backed by rail asset investor Rock Rail, the procurement supports the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade strategy. Economically, the manufacturing phase will sustain over 350 direct technical roles at Alstom's Derby production site, stimulate approximately £360 million in localized supply chain expenditure, and support more than 5,500 broader supply chain jobs across the country.
For the wider rail industry and institutional investors, the project demonstrates the commercial viability of battery-electric technology as a cost-effective alternative to full overhead electrification on complex regional networks. By combining rolling stock manufacturing, specialized charging infrastructure, and long-term asset management into a single integrated framework, the deal sets a operational precedent for regional transit operators evaluating low-carbon fleet transitions.
