Alstom signs €1.2bn deal for 29 TransPennine battery-electric trains

Alstom has signed contracts worth about €1.2 billion to supply and maintain 29 battery-electric trains for TransPennine Express, the manufacturer announced on 11 September 2026.

The five-car trains are intended for routes across northern England. The agreements include roughly €930 million for the fleet and €230 million for maintenance, according to Alstom’s announcement. The Guardian reported that the maintenance term is eight years, with an option to extend it by another eight.

Manufacturing is due to begin at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane plant in Derby in 2028. Deliveries are planned from 2032, ahead of entry into service in 2034. The long timetable means the order represents an investment in future services rather than an immediate change for passengers.

Charging facilities are planned for Hull, Scarborough and Saltburn so trains can recharge during normal operations. Battery power will allow them to run on sections without overhead electrification.

The government expects the fleet to shorten Manchester–Leeds journeys by up to 10 minutes and Manchester–York journeys by up to 14 minutes, The Guardian reported. Those are projected benefits of the planned service, rather than journey-time reductions already achieved.