Alstom to build new battery-electric train fleet

He added: "I've lost count of the number of times someone has stopped me to tell me about the train that never came.

"And when that happens, it means missed shifts, missed appointments, and missed opportunities. Today, that starts to change."

The DfT said the trains would help deliver the TransPennine Route Upgrade's aim to boost capacity by 30%, with thousands of additional seats a day across the Pennines by the early to mid-2030s.

They will run between key destinations across the north including Liverpool Lime Street and Scarborough, Manchester Airport and Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly and Hull.

On sections of the railway that are not electrified, where trains currently use diesel engines, the new electric models would be able to run without emissions, the government said.

The DfT added journey times would be cut by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds, and up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York.

The trains will be bought by rolling stock company Rock Rail and leased to TransPennine Express, the government added.

Alstom, which boasts the largest rolling stock train manufacturing site outside of China, secured a £370m contract in 2024 to produce 10 new London Elizabeth line trains.

This came less than three months after a redundancy consultation put 1,300 jobs at risk at its Litchurch Lane factory, which dates back to 1876.

Rob Whyte, managing director UK at Alstom, called the latest agreement a "landmark moment for Britain's railway".

He said: "We're absolutely delighted. It's fantastic news for Alstom as a company but also for the city of Derby and the East Midlands.

"It's a great opportunity for us to continue our legacy.

"We have a period where new builds will stop until the TransPennine order starts, but we've already taken on some refurbishment works for CrossCountry and for ScotRail and we'll look to transfer as many people as we can into that area."

The Unite union also welcomed the news, with general secretary Sharon Graham saying the announcement would come as a "huge relief to Alstom's Derby workers and those in the supply chain".

"Unite's Alstom members have worked tirelessly in campaigning to ensure Derby's proud history of train making continues well into the future," she added.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander spoke to the BBC at Alstom, next to one of the new Elizabeth line trains.

She said: "It's fantastic news that a city like Derby, that's got such a proud railway heritage, is also going to be manufacturing that new fleet of trains for the north of England as well.

"It is good news. It's about building the railway that the country needs to support the economy, but it's also about making sure that, in our economic heartlands - places like Derby - we've got really high skilled jobs for the future.

"This contract alone means 40 extra apprentices here. It secures 350 jobs at this facility and will support over 5,000 jobs in the wider supply chain as well."

In a statement, DfT said journeys on the new fleet would be "quieter, smoother and more reliable", while offering "improved accessibility, more luggage space and onboard wi-fi".

Step-free boarding - the "elimination of gaps between the train and platform" - are also being promised as part of a commitment to accessibility, alongside three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas and cycle and buggy storage on each train.