Fleet of 29 new five-car trains planned for TransPennine Express
Aberdeen Investments and Rock Rail have finalised financial close on a £1bn programme set to deliver Britain’s first mainline battery-electric train fleet for TransPennine Express. This investment, channelled through the Next Generation Rail Fund, will finance 29 new five-car trains along with associated infrastructure across northern England.
The new fleet forms a component of the wider £11bn Transpennine Route Upgrade, which aims to provide faster, more frequent, and lower-carbon connections. Destinations benefiting from the upgrade include Liverpool, Manchester, Manchester Airport, Leeds, Hull, York, Scarborough, and Saltburn.
Alstom will design, engineer, and manufacture the trains at its Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, utilising the company’s Adessia Stream platform. Manufacturing is projected to commence in 2028, with deliveries anticipated from 2032 and passenger services scheduled to begin in winter 2034.
These trains will integrate overhead electric power with battery technology, enabling them to operate without diesel across both electrified and non-electrified sections of the network. Dedicated charging infrastructure, described by Alstom as the first of its kind on Britain’s mainline railway, will be installed at Hull, Scarborough, and Saltburn to facilitate recharging during normal operations.
Each train will measure 121 metres in length and be capable of speeds up to 110mph, offering approximately 300 seats, which include First Class accommodation and catering facilities. Passenger amenities will feature Wi-Fi, air conditioning, power sockets, USB-C charging, additional luggage space, real-time information screens, and dedicated cycle storage. The fleet will also provide level boarding at every doorway, three wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, and dedicated family and buggy areas.
Dominic Helmsley, Head of Economic Infrastructure at Aberdeen Investments, stated: “This is a landmark investment for our Next Generation Rail Fund and a strong demonstration of what long-term institutional capital can achieve when it is aligned with the country’s infrastructure priorities. These new trains will form an important part of the modernisation of the TransPennine network, helping to improve capacity and reliability while supporting the transition away from diesel. The combination of electric and battery power also provides the flexibility needed to deliver those benefits as the wider route upgrade progresses.”
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The Alstom contracts are valued at more than €1.2bn, which equates to approximately £1bn. This figure comprises a rolling-stock order worth around €930m and maintenance agreements valued at approximately €230m. Manufacturing the fleet is expected to support over 350 skilled jobs in Derby and more than 5,500 roles throughout Alstom’s UK supply chain. At least £360m is anticipated to be spent with British suppliers, and the maintenance agreement, with an initial term of eight years and an option for an eight-year extension, will support over 100 jobs.
Mark Swindell, Founder and Chief Executive of Rock Rail, noted that the company had now driven more than £1bn of investment into trains serving the North of England. He added: “I would like to thank TPE, Alstom and the TRU programme for entrusting Rock Rail with funding and delivering this important project. At Rock we care about improving the passenger experience; we feel strongly this project will deliver a step-change in experience, journey times and environmental benefit.”
Rock Rail collaborated with TransPennine Express, Alstom, and the Transpennine Route Upgrade team to structure the investment. The fund’s equity contribution is supported by senior debt from Barclays, Intesa Sanpaolo, Lloyds, MetLife, NatWest, NORD/LB, and Scottish Widows. This transaction marks a significant milestone for the Next Generation Rail Fund, which invests institutional capital into transport infrastructure to support decarbonisation, regional connectivity, and long-term economic growth. Aberdeen Investments managed £397.5bn on behalf of clients as of 30 June 2026.
