Arriva Group has placed an order for a new fleet of battery hybrid trains to operate under its open-access brand Grand Central, replacing the operator’s entire current rolling stock. The order includes 45 tri-mode railcars to be manufactured by Hitachi Rail at Newton Aycliffe and is financed through a leasing agreement with Angel Trains.
The ordered fleet comprises nine five-car trainsets based on Hitachi’s tri-mode technology, enabling operation via electric power, diesel engines, and onboard batteries. These vehicles are intended to run on both electrified and non-electrified sections of the East Coast Main Line, where Grand Central currently operates.
Delivery of the new fleet is scheduled for 2028, supported by a 10-year maintenance agreement. The order has been placed following the Office of Rail and Road’s decision to extend Grand Central’s access rights on existing routes until 2038.
The inclusion of battery modules in the build programme opens further opportunities for component supply within the UK rail industry. According to Hitachi Rail, the contract supports both existing jobs and future advanced manufacturing capabilities at the site.
The new tri-mode units will offer a 20% increase in seating capacity compared to Grand Central’s current fleet. This translates to approximately 400,000 additional seats per year across services connecting Sunderland, Yorkshire and London. The trains are designed with zero-emission battery operation at stations, potentially reducing emissions and noise levels in urban areas.
In addition to battery operation, the trains retain full diesel functionality, ensuring compatibility with infrastructure that lacks electrification. Hitachi previously trialled tri-mode technology in partnership with Angel Trains on the UK network in 2024.
Angel Trains will finance the project through a 10-year leasing structure. The leasing company also recently confirmed a £250 million investment in 14 Hitachi Class 80x trainsets for a separate open-access operation with FirstGroup.
Arriva retains the option to order additional trains, subject to approval of further open-access applications currently under review. Proposals include extensions of Grand Central services to Cleethorpes, Seaham, and further frequencies between York, Bradford, and London.
Grand Central has operated open-access services on the East Coast Main Line since 2007. As an open-access operator, it receives no direct government subsidy and operates commercially. Arriva Group, its parent company, also runs Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry and Arriva Rail London, and is active in multiple European countries across different contract models.
The fleet replacement project forms part of a broader shift toward traction options aligned with UK decarbonisation targets, and fleet unification, with Hitachi trains being popular for their high reliability. The flexibility of tri-mode operation enables service continuity while infrastructure upgrades progress on key routes.
