New British-built mainline battery-electric trains have been ordered in a €1.2bn deal that will support the Transpennine Route Upgrade and help decarbonise rail travel across northern England.

"This agreement is a landmark moment for Britain's railway, and we couldn't be prouder that the country's first mainline battery-electric trains will be designed and built in Britain. The fleet will transform journeys across northern England while showcasing the very best of British engineering, innovation and advanced manufacturing," said Rob Whyte MD at Alstom.

The order represents the first deployment of Alstom’s Adessia Stream platform in the UK and will deliver Britain’s first mainline battery-electric train fleet, combining high performance, operational flexibility and sustainable mobility.

The first new-build trains to be operated by Great British Railways, the trains have been devised specifically for the needs of long-distance regional travel, with the trains operating at speeds of up to 110 mph and providing around 300 seats per train.

The trains’ battery technology provides emission-free operations on non-electrified sections of railway. Charging infrastructure will be installed by Alstom at Hull, Scarborough and Saltburn, allowing the Adessia fleet to recharge efficiently during normal operations and supporting the ambition to operate fully decarbonised routes. Installation of this infrastructure will be a UK-first on the mainline network and follows a similar successful deployment by Alstom in Ireland.

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