Electric trains set for city after £1bn investment in new TransPennine Express fleet

CLEANER AND FASTER: An image of one of the new trains

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Electric trains could be serving Hull’s Paragon Station in 2034 after £1bn of investment in new trains was announced by the Department for Transport (DfT).

In a major breakthrough for campaigners, the city was included on the list of destinations and routes in the North to benefit from a new fleet of 29 battery-electric TransPennine Express trains, after being left out of a planned £45bn upgrade of northern railways announced by Keir Starmer’s government in January.

The new trains will operate services between key destinations across the North – Manchester Piccadilly and Hull, Liverpool Lime Street and Scarborough, and Manchester Airport and Saltburn.

The battery-electric Adessia Stream trains, the first of their kind on a UK main line route, will provide emission-free travel on non-electrified sections of the railway. 

The Dft said journey times will be cut by up to ten minutes between Manchester and Leeds and up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York. Passengers will also enjoy quieter, smoother and more reliable journeys, as well as improved accessibility, more luggage space and onboard Wi-Fi.

The trains are due to be built from 2028 and enter service from winter 2034. 

The DfT said the new fleet “is a clear example of what Great British Railways (GBR) can deliver by bringing track and train together”.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “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. These 29 new trains will bring faster, more reliable journeys to the North, and thousands of British jobs for the next generation.

“It’s exactly what Great British Railways is all about – taking back control of the basics and getting Britain believing again.”

ACCESSIBLE: The trains will have step-free boarding

The new trains will be built at Alstom in Derby. They will be bought by Rock Rail and leased to Transpennine Express in an agreement that will see the rolling stock company work with TransPennine Express to deliver cleaner, more efficient and sustainable transport.  

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “This significant investment embodies how GBR will deliver better journeys for people while backing British business. Passengers will be able to wave goodbye to overcrowded, delayed diesel trains and step onboard faster electric trains which are fit for the future.

“From Alstom’s factory floor in Derby to supply chains across the country, this deal will deliver growth, jobs, opportunity and better transport links for generations to come.”

Hull City Council leader, Councillor Mike Ross, said: “For years, governments of all colours have failed Hull’s transport system.

“While these are warm words from the Prime Minister, to address the issues residents raise we need to see real action and fast. People have been let down too many times by politicians in Westminster.

“We’ve called endlessly for electrification of the line, more services and improvements to our station and we need to see all of that delivered under this government.” 

The trains will provide improved accessibility including step-free boarding and the elimination of gaps between the train and platform, making journeys easier for wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and those with luggage.  

Each train will also include three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas and cycle and buggy storage.

Chris Jackson, managing director at TransPennine Express, said: “This is a transformational £1bn investment in the future of rail travel across the North, delivering new trains for our customers as well as new infrastructure, new jobs and long-term economic benefits. Our customers will benefit from more seats and better accessibility, including level boarding.

“Britain has a proud railway heritage, and this project puts the UK at the forefront of the next generation of cleaner rail technology.”

The DfT said the investment would support 6,000 jobs across the UK supply chain and generate around £360m for the wider economy. 

GBR, which aims to bringing together track, trains and stations to create a simpler, more joined-up railway, is due to be formally established by the end of 2027.