3 minute read - 3rd April 2025
Hitachi Rail secures £300m Grand Central train order
Hitachi Rail has secured an order from Arriva Group for nine battery hybrid trains to replace its entire Grand Central fleet. The deal also includes a 10-year maintenance contract.
The order for 45 Hitachi Rail tri-mode cars, which have the flexibility to run on electrified and non-electrified tracks, represents an investment of around £300m. 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. A subsidiary of Arriva Group, Grand Central is an open-access train operator primarily connecting London King’s Cross, Yorkshire and the North East.
The trains will be manufactured at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory, helping to protect jobs and skills at its UK manufacturing base. Meanwhile, the battery element of the order unlocks a new advanced manufacturing opportunity for the factory and wider supply chain. The trains will be delivered in 2028 under a 10-year leasing arrangement, in partnership and financed by Angel Trains.
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Hitachi Rail has secured a £300m order for nine battery hybrid trains from Arriva Group to replace its entire Grand Central fleet / Picture: Hitachi Rail
The pioneering technology will cut emissions and fuel consumption by around 30%. 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% more seats than existing rolling stock, and travellers will also benefit from more luggage storage, in-seat power and an electronic reservation system.
The increase in seat numbers 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.
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.”
Amanda Furlong, managing director of Arriva UK Trains, said: “This major investment underscores our commitment to the UK market. We are proud to connect underserved 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.”
