The UK government has announced plans to build 29 new battery-electric trains, which will be the first of their kind for long-distance main line services in the country. These trains, known as the Adessia Stream, are expected to start operating by 2034 and will be manufactured at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane factory in Derby, beginning in 2028. The project involves an investment of nearly £1 billion, which is expected to create over 350 jobs at Alstom and an additional 6,000 jobs across the UK supply chain. Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized that the new trains will provide "faster, more reliable journeys to the north and thousands of British jobs for the next generation." He highlighted the importance of improving train reliability, noting that many people have shared stories about missed opportunities due to unreliable services, and called this project a turning point for the railway sector. The Department for Transport (DfT) stated that the new trains will support the Transpennine Route Upgrade, a major infrastructure project aimed at increasing rail capacity by 30% across the Pennines. This upgrade is expected to add thousands of new seats for passengers traveling between key northern destinations, such as Liverpool Lime Street and Scarborough, Manchester Airport and Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly and Hull. Journey times are projected to be reduced by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York. The trains will be purchased by Rock Rail and leased to TransPennine Express, a train operating company. Alstom, the French-based rail manufacturer, is responsible for building these new trains. This follows a previous contract in 2024 for producing 10 new London Elizabeth line trains, worth £370 million. The company had also faced uncertainty due to a redundancy consultation that threatened 1,300 jobs at its Litchurch Lane factory, which has been in operation since 1876. Rob Whyte, managing director of Alstom in the UK, called the agreement a "landmark moment for Britain's railway," underscoring the significance of designing and building the country's first main line battery-electric trains. The DfT noted that the new trains will offer "quieter, smoother and more reliable" journeys, with features such as improved accessibility, more luggage space, and onboard Wi-Fi. The trains will include step-free boarding, eliminate gaps between the train and platform, and have three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas, and storage for cycles and pushchairs. They will also operate without emissions on non-electrified sections of the railway network. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander praised the announcement, saying it reflects how Great British Railways will deliver better travel experiences while supporting domestic businesses.