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Passengers have frequently shared their frustrations about trains that fail to arrive on time, causing disruptions to their daily lives. “I’ve lost count of the number of times someone has stopped me to tell me about the train that never came,” one source remarked. The consequences of these delays include missed work shifts, appointments, and other important opportunities. However, efforts are now underway to address these problems and improve the situation.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced plans to introduce new trains as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, aiming to increase capacity by 30%. This will provide thousands of extra seats daily across routes spanning the Pennines, with the improvements expected to be completed in the early to mid-2030s. The new fleet will serve major northern cities, including connections from Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough, Manchester Airport to Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly to Hull.
According to the DfT, journey times are set to improve significantly, with reductions of up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York. The trains will be procured by Rock Rail and leased to TransPennine Express, facilitating modernized and more efficient rail services in the region.
Alstom, known for operating the largest train manufacturing facility outside of China, secured a £370 million contract in 2024 to build 10 new Elizabeth line trains for London. This contract followed a period of uncertainty when a redundancy consultation endangered 1,300 jobs at their longstanding Litchurch Lane factory, which has been in operation since 1876. Rob Whyte, Alstom’s UK managing director, described the new deal as a “landmark moment for Britain’s railway,” expressing pride in the fact that the first mainline battery-electric trains for the country will be designed and constructed domestically. “The fleet will transform journeys across northern England while showcasing the very best of British engineering, innovation and advanced manufacturing,” Whyte added
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