Alstom and TransPennine Express (TPE) have signed contracts worth approximately €1.2 billion for the supply and long-term maintenance of a new fleet of battery-electric trains, marking a major step towards the decarbonisation of rail transport in northern England.
The agreements cover the supply of 29 five-car battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) and long-term maintenance services. The rolling stock contract is valued at approximately €930 million, while maintenance agreements account for around €230 million.
The new trains will be designed and built in Britain and are scheduled to enter service from 2032. The fleet will operate as part of TPE’s efforts to modernise its network while supporting the wider decarbonisation objectives of the UK rail sector.
The battery-electric trains are expected to play an important role in reducing reliance on diesel-powered rolling stock on routes where conventional electrification is not yet available. By combining onboard battery systems with electrified sections of the railway, the trains can potentially reduce emissions while maintaining operational flexibility across the network.
The project is also closely linked to the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), a major programme aimed at improving rail connectivity, capacity and journey times across northern England. The introduction of battery-electric trains will complement infrastructure upgrades along the route and support the transition towards a lower-carbon railway.
The five-car BEMU fleet will represent a significant deployment of battery-electric technology on Britain’s mainline railway. The trains are intended to provide passengers with modern rolling stock while supporting the long-term transformation of one of the country’s key intercity rail corridors.
Under the maintenance agreement, Alstom will provide long-term support for the new fleet, covering maintenance activities designed to maximise train availability and reliability throughout their operational life. The combined rolling stock and maintenance contracts are expected to provide a long-term framework for the introduction and operation of the new battery-electric fleet.
The project highlights the growing role of battery technology in railway decarbonisation, particularly on routes where full electrification may be technically or economically challenging. Battery-electric trains can operate using stored energy over non-electrified sections while recharging on electrified portions of the network or through dedicated charging infrastructure.
For TransPennine Express, the new fleet is expected to support the modernisation of passenger services while contributing to broader efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of rail operations.
With deliveries scheduled to begin in 2032, the programme represents a long-term investment in battery-electric rail technology and Britain’s transition towards cleaner, more sustainable transportation. The €1.2 billion contracts also underline the increasing scale of investment being directed towards battery-powered mobility beyond the road transport sector.
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