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• Order worth around £300 million for fleet of new trains, which will increase seats by 20 per cent, improving capacity and connectivity.
• 45 rail cars to be manufactured at Hitachi Rail in the North East and financed by Angel Trains, helping secure highly skilled jobs and unlocking a new advanced manufacturing opportunity for rail.
• State-of-the-art ‘tri-mode’ train technology has proven its ability to cut emissions and fuel costs by around 30 per cent to support UK Government’s decarbonisation agenda.
• Announcement is made from Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory and attended by the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP.

Arriva Group announced today an order for nine cutting-edge battery hybrid trains to replace its entire Grand Central fleet, providing a major boost to regional economies and offering passengers more comfortable, greener travel options.

The order for 45 Hitachi Rail ‘tri-mode’ cars, which have the flexibility to run on electrified and non-electrified tracks, along with a 10-year maintenance contract, represents an investment of around £300 million. Tri-mode means the trains can be powered using electricity, battery or diesel.

It follows approval by the rail regulator for extended track access rights for Grand Central’s existing services through to 2038, with the investment underpinning Arriva’s long-term commitment to UK rail and to delivering sustainable public transport solutions to communities up and down the country and across Europe.

The trains will be manufactured at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory, helping to protect jobs and skills at their UK manufacturing base. Meanwhile, the battery element of the order unlocks a new advanced manufacturing opportunity for the factory, and wider supply chain. The order supports both the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and mission for economic growth, cementing the North East’s role as UK battery hub. 

The new trains will increase seat numbers by 20 per cent which means 400,000 additional seats per year will be available to passengers travelling between the North East, Yorkshire and London.  Because of their tri-mode capability the trains could be used on other routes in the future. They are also expected to reduce both emissions and noise.

The trains will be delivered in 2028 under a 10-year leasing arrangement, in partnership and financed by Angel Trains. 

Amanda Furlong, Managing Director of Arriva UK Trains, said: “This major investment underscores our commitment to the UK market. We are proud to connect under-served communities with regional and national centres, helping make sustainable train travel the easy choice.

“These best-in-class, greener trains will deliver more comfortable journeys and a step-change in capacity on our popular Grand Central services. We look forward to announcing further rolling stock orders, providing jobs and wider economic benefits, as and when our network grows.”

Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP, said: “Just four months since the Prime Minister and I welcomed a significant deal for Hitachi and its workforce in Newton Aycliffe, this new £300m investment marks yet another step forward in securing the future of rail manufacturing in the North East.

“The landmark deal is proof that our Plan for Change is delivering results – creating the right environment for investment, which in turn supports high-skilled jobs, drives economic growth and delivers real improvement in people’s lives.

“Not only will this new battery technology deliver greener journeys for passengers, but it will also boost skills for the workforce and futureproof jobs here in Newton Aycliffe as we continue to deliver a railway fit for the 21st century.”

North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, said “I made it one of my first priorities as Mayor to secure the future of Hitachi in Country Durham, and with that the jobs of hundreds of people who work at the Newton Aycliffe plant. Today’s announcement confirming a new £300m order by Arriva for state-of-the-art trains is just the latest sign we are succeeding.  This is great news for Hitachi and its highly skilled workforce, showing there’s real confidence in advanced manufacturing in North East England.

“I’m so proud to say that in the very near future, the entire Grand Central fleet which links Sunderland to York and London will have been proudly built in our region.”

Jim Brewin, Hitachi Rail Chief Director of UK & Ireland, said: “As we celebrate 200 years since the birth of the modern railway in the North East, it’s symbolic that innovative battery trains are being developed in Newton Aycliffe”.

“Battery trains’ ability to deliver cheaper, greener, and more reliable journeys means we are unlocking a new advanced manufacturing opportunity for rail today.

“Following the successful trial of this pioneering battery technology last year, Arriva and Angel Trains are transforming Hitachi’s £17 million R&D investment into the first battery train order to be built in the UK.”

David Jordan, COO of Angel Trains, said: “Our multimillion-pound investment into these state-of-the-art tri-mode trains will deliver significant benefits for Grand Central passengers, connecting communities across the North of England and driving essential economic growth.

“This latest development builds on the momentum created by the successful conclusion of our battery trial with Hitachi Rail at the end of last year and demonstrates the transformative potential of battery technology in both existing and new fleets.”

The pioneering technology will cut emissions and fuel consumption by around 30 per cent. The trains can enter and exit stations in zero-emission battery mode, helping improve air quality and reduce noise in urban centres. The new trains will include 20 per cent more seats than existing rolling stock, helping to meet increased passenger demand and encouraging the switch to public transport. Travellers will also benefit from more luggage storage, in-seat power and an electronic reservation system.

Arriva has welcomed the swift decision-making by the regulator, the ORR (Office of Rail and Road) and the backing of the Department for Transport and Network Rail to extend its track access rights. It has two further outstanding applications currently under consideration, which if granted, would extend existing routes to bring direct rail services to under-served communities in the UK. The Group also has an option to buy more trains if applications are approved.

Notes to Editors:

• The rolling stock order follows approval by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) of Arriva’s application to extend existing track access rights for Grand Central until 2038.
• Grand Central has been running services on the East Coast mainline since 2007 as an open access operator, which means it receives no government funding or subsidy. 
• Last month (March), Arriva formally applied to the ORR to expand its Grand Central Services into Lincolnshire from 2026, providing the first direct train service from Cleethorpes to London since 1992. It is also seeking approval for proposals for two extra daily return services between Bradford and London and an early morning and late evening return from York to London, together with services to Seaham in County Durham, which would be the town’s first and only direct connection to the Capital.
• Arriva Group’s train operators include Grand Central, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry and Arriva Rail London.  It is the only owning group with experience of all contract types currently in use on Britain’s railway, including national rail contracts, a concessionary contract and an open access company.  Arriva also supports the critical maintenance of rolling stock through Arriva Train Care and provides rail replacement services through Arriva Road Transport Solutions.  It also owns a digital smart ticketing platform, Arriva Customer Engine.
• Hitachi Rail and Angel Trains successful trialled the tri-mode technology on the UK rail network in 2024. More information on the trial and the capabilities of tri-mode technology can be viewed here.

Angel Trains is proud to announce the procurement of 14 new 5-car Hitachi Class 80x trainsets, which will be leased by FirstGroup for use on its recently secured London to Carmarthen and other Open Access routes.

This significant £250m investment has been agreed in partnership with FirstGroup and Hitachi Rail in less than three months from initiation to signing and the speed at which this transaction has been concluded reflects one of the significant advantages that the private sector continues to offer the industry.

The delivery of these new state-of-the-art trains will secure jobs at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe facility where the vehicles will be assembled, helping to retain critical skills and drive growth within the local economy.

The new trains will be a combination of electric and bi-mode (electric diesel) with the capability to subsequently be converted to battery, aligning with our strategy to support the de-carbonisation of rail in a sustainable manner.

This announcement underpins our continued commitment to investing in the UK rail manufacturing and supply chain and we look forward to continuing to play a leading role in driving sustainable economic growth within rail and the regions it supports.

Angel Trains demonstrated its continuing commitment to ESG transparency and improved performance by participating in the 2024 GRESB Infrastructure Assessment. We are delighted to announce that we achieved a benchmark score 99/100 and were awarded the highest GRESB rating of 5 stars. Each year, GRESB assesses and benchmarks the ESG performance of assets worldwide, providing clarity and insights to financial markets on complex sustainability topics.

Angel Trains works with Campaign for Better Transport, the national sustainable transport charity, to help bring sustainable transport to more communities and tackle climate change. For the last five decades, Campaign for Better Transport has been working to ensure that everyone has access to sustainable transport that meets their needs, reduces social inequality and helps protect the environment. For more information about the work of Campaign for Better Transport visit www.bettertransport.org.uk.

• All 56 Avanti West Coast Pendolino trains now fully refurbished   
• Last train leaves Alstom’s Widnes depot after event to mark the successful completion of the project
• The £117m investment, financed by Angel Trains, has helped to deliver a step change in onboard experience

A £117m refurbishment programme of our iconic Pendolino fleet has concluded after the final completed train went into service this week.

The departure of the last Pendolino from rail manufacturer Alstom’s Widnes facility marked the end of the project – the UK’s biggest ever fleet upgrade. It has seen 574 refurbished carriages delivered in just over two years, at a rate of one completed train every two weeks.

The last train, 390020, entered into service yesterday (Monday 24 June) – working the 08:43 service from Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston.

The Pendolinos have served routes between London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh and the upgrade has returned the whole Pendolino fleet to an ‘as new’ condition.

Customer benefits of the fleet overhaul include:

• 25,000 new, ergonomic Standard Class seats;
• Conversion of one First Class carriage on each of the 35 eleven-carriage Pendolinos to provide more than 2,000 extra Standard Class seats;
• The introduction of a new onboard shop;
• Improved lighting;
• Refurbished First Class and Standard Premium seats;
• Greater use of technology with customer-friendly passenger information screens;
• Additional luggage space in Standard Class;
• Power points at every seat;
• Refurbished toilets; and
• New carpets throughout using sustainable British wool.

Malcolm Brown, CEO of Angel Trains, said: “A huge thank you to both Alstom and Avanti West Coast for making the UK’s biggest ever fleet upgrade possible. It’s significantly transformed our iconic trains, and I’m positive that passengers will enjoy the comfort and connectivity when they travel on one of our refurbished Pendolinos.

“This is exactly what the partnership between our businesses set out to achieve together, and I’m certain that it will encourage people to make a positive decision to travel by train on the West Coast Main Line.

“To demonstrate our commitment to continue developing talent within our suppliers and industry, Angel Trains is excited to announce that we’re sponsoring two apprentices to join Alstom’s Widnes facility later this year. I wish them every success in what I hope will be a long railway career ahead.”

Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast said: “The refurbished Pendolinos, together with our new Evero fleet, are a key part of our mission to transform rail travel for our customers on the west coast route.

“The Pendolino is an iconic train, and now even better than before, offering customers a much-improved travel experience, with innovation and sustainability at its heart.”

Peter Broadley, Alstom’s Services Managing Director UK who hosted an event at Widnes to mark the completion of the project, commented: “Alstom’s successful completion of the UK’s biggest ever fleet upgrade demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the journey experience for fare-paying passengers while, at the same time, supporting the growth of sustainable rail travel in the UK.

“This milestone highlights the dedication and expertise of our team at Widnes. They have worked tirelessly in partnership with colleagues at Avanti West Coast, Angel Trains and our wider UK supply chain to elevate the interior refurbishment of rolling stock to another level. We are immensely proud to see the entire Alstom-built Pendolino fleet returning to service in peak condition.”

Angel Trains is pleased to announce that it has acquired a 50% share in SMBC Leasing’s UK rail rolling stock portfolio. The portfolio is a diversified fleet of modern rolling stock, serving rural and urban areas throughout the UK. The assets are on long-term lease arrangements with highly rated counterparties.

Angel Trains, the UK’s largest rolling stock company, has partnered with the University of St Andrews to support an innovative hydrogen train project, which could change the future of rail travel as we know it. 

On Friday 29th September, an event was held to mark the donation of a hydrogen electrolyser to the university by Angel Trains. This will form an integral part of ongoing, cutting-edge green hydrogen research.

During the event, guests toured the Eden Campus and listened to how the electrolyser will contribute to the University’s plans to develop a Green Hydrogen Accelerator – a purpose-built innovation centre for research and development.

The donation of the hydrogen electrolyser follows the support that Angel Trains provided to the University of St Andrews, and other industry partners, in delivering Scotland’s first zero-emission hydrogen-powered train. The project entailed the conversion of a three-car Class 314 train to a hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain. The electrolyser was key to enabling the trial to successfully demonstrate how a green-energy fuel cycle would work, which is a major step in getting hydrogen-powered trains off the ground.

The Zero Emissions project also marked a significant step forward for the industry in laying the foundations for the future of rail travel, creating cleaner transport, and supporting the drive to achieve net zero targets by 2045.

Malcolm Brown, CEO of Angel Trains, said: “We continue to invest heavily in green hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and innovation, to help drive down operational costs and to make trains the cleanest and greenest mode of long-distance travel.

“The electrolyser offers the university a huge amount of learning for its students, which has real-world benefits, as well as giving them hands-on experience with sustainable travel solutions. We look forward to seeing the further benefits the electrolyser will bring to accelerate the decarbonisation of the rail industry.”

Professor John Irvine from the School of Chemistry at the University of St Andrews added: “It’s wonderful to get the chance to thank Angel Trains for their generous contribution and celebrate the continued research this has allowed us to carry out. 

“To ramp-up the deployment of zero emission technologies, it is imperative that we collaborate with commercial organisations who are making decisions about long-term assets. I’d like to commend Angel Trains for actively engaging with us in our efforts towards achieving a more sustainable rail sector”.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony concluded the event, with industry professionals and government officials hearing speeches from Malcolm Brown, Dr Paul Webb and Professor John Irvine on a greener future and how the electrolyser would be used for future research at the university.

Angel Trains has been named a World-Class Workplace for 2023 by Effectory. Not only that, but we have also won two awards for “Best in UK” and “Best in Industry: B2B Supplier”.

Effectory, being the survey gurus they are, talked to over a million employees at over a thousand companies around the globe to identify which organisations score above the national benchmark for Employership. They look at things like employee engagement, commitment, and how well a business supports its employees in reaching their full potential.

This recognition means a lot to us as we strive to create an environment where our people feel valued and supported in everything they do.

All aboard the victory train! Angel Trains, Transmission Dynamics, West Midlands Trains, Network Rail, and Siemens – have just emerged as winners at the Railway Industry Supply Excellence (RISE) Awards.

The winning partnership was announced at the RISE Awards at Railway Industry Association’s Annual Dinner held on the 29th June. This award recognises teamwork, collaboration and innovation.

Let’s talk about what makes our collaboration so special. Working together, we have delivered Transmission Dynamics’s “Trains with Brains” project. The combined use of the PANDAS V hardware and the added sensors on the bogie and underframe generate valuable insight into both the track and train’s health and performance, leading to reduced downtime and maintenance costs.

We are very proud of our amazing partners for their accomplishments and we hope this collaboration will lead to many great things for the rail industry.

The Railway Innovation Awards recognise the very best innovations, companies and people within the rail industry in the UK. We’re extremely proud to have taken home the ‘major project’ winning trophy for the Pendolino mid-life upgrade with our friends at Avanti West Coast and Alstom.

This win highlighted the sustainable approach that was taken in upgrading the UK’s hardest-working train to give passengers reliable, comfortable, state-of-the-art travel.

The Railway Innovation Awards judges commented: “The Pendolino refurbishment is enhancing one of the UK’s flagship train fleets, and while many of the features are what the modern passenger expects, it brings several innovations to the interior as well as the way the project has been delivered collaboratively at a challenging time for the supply chain.”

Malcolm Brown, CEO of Angel Trains, said: “Our iconic Pendolino trains have been refurbished to provide a comfortable, connected, best in class passenger experience at a lower cost and carbon footprint than building new. Working together with Avanti West Coast and Alstom, this project has supported UK suppliers and skilled jobs the length of the West Coast Mainline. This award is testimony to the exceptional contribution from all involved.”