By Rail passengers are set to enjoy faster and more frequent services when a new fleet of battery-electric trains begin operating on TransPennine Express* routes.
Great British Railways (GBR), the UK Government’s new body that runs most of Britain’s rail network, has signed a £1 billion contract with train manufacturer Alstom to build 29** of their Adessa Stream trains at the historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works – the UK’s only end-to-end train factory. The work will secure 350 jobs in Derby.
Devised specifically for the needs of long-distance regional travel, the 121-metre-long trains will operate at speeds of up to 110 mph and provide around 300 seats per train. They will be the first battery-electric*** trains to operate on the mainline in the UK, and will serve cities such as Liverpool, York, Hull, Scarborough, Saltburn, and between Manchester – Leeds where they are expected to cut journey times by up to 10 minutes.
On board facilities will include a First Class area with catering facilities, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, power and USB-C charging at every seat, enhanced luggage provision, real-time passenger information systems, CCTV, dedicated cycle storage and quieter, more comfortable interiors.
Also, a key feature of the new trains is ‘step-free boarding’ at every door, which will make life much easier for passengers needing accessible boarding, AND will reduce station dwell times.
Each train will also include three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas and buggy storage.
Work on the new trains will start in 2028. They are expected to start entering service from 2034.
* TransPennine Express (TPE) is a state-owned British train operating company that runs regional and inter-city rail services between the major cities and towns of Northern England and Scotland.
** Seems an odd number! Why not 30?
*** Battery-Electric systems allow trains to operate with zero emissions on both electrified and non-electrified stretches of track.
Feature image: A rendition of an Adessa Stream in TPE livery at Hull Station (©Alstom)
