Story perspectives

UK DfT Approves £360M Deal for Electric Trains

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 4:10 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Department for Transport approved a deal to acquire battery-electric trains for northern England.
The order will support over 350 skilled jobs, 40 apprentices and 40 students in Derby.
The deal is expected to generate roughly £360 million for the wider economy.
The new trains aim to raise capacity by 30% and add thousands of seats by the early-mid-2030s.
Journey times could fall up to 10 minutes Manchester-Leeds and 14 minutes Manchester-York.

History

Historical Context

British Rail’s 1955 Modernisation Plan brought 25 kV AC to the West Coast Main Line, extending to Manchester and Liverpool and marking one of the first large-scale regional electrifications. After a lull, the 1998 Heathrow Express line showed renewed public investment, and today the Department for Transport’s battery-electric order for Manchester-Leeds echoes the 2012 £4.2 billion electrification push, aiming to boost capacity and decarbonise the north.

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Story summary

Department for Transport approved a deal to acquire battery-electric trains for northern England.
The order will support over 350 skilled jobs, 40 apprentices and 40 students in Derby.
The deal is expected to generate roughly £360 million for the wider economy.
The new trains aim to raise capacity by 30% and add thousands of seats by the early-mid-2030s.
Journey times could fall up to 10 minutes Manchester-Leeds and 14 minutes Manchester-York.

1 / 2