A fleet of 29 British-built electric trains will enter service along the TransPennine route in northern England by 2034, offering long-distance regional travel.
The £1bn contract between TransPennine Express and French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom covers the supply of 29 five-car battery-electric multiple units, station charging infrastructure and long-term maintenance.
The trains will be built at Alstom’s historic Litchurch Lane Works in Derby. According to the firm, the project will support more than 350 highly-skilled jobs at the site and over 5,500 roles across its UK supply chain.
Manufacturing is expected to begin in 2028, with the first trains scheduled for delivery by the end of 2032 and a full passenger service commencing in 2034.
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...