Northern Trains, which has been under public ownership since March 2020, plans to replace as many as 450 of its ageing fleet - most of which have been in service since the 1980s and 90s - with the first set of new models due to arrive in 2030.
In a statement sent to the Mirror, Northern's managing director Tricia Williams said: "Almost 60 per cent of the trains in our fleet are between 32 and 40 years old and, while they've served the region well, it's important we get the ball rolling on their replacement.
Northern states the contract will be awarded to the successful bidder or bidders in 2026, and that phase one will replace the ageing Class 150, 155, and 156 trains first.
It's game-changing for Northern and will transform the look and feel of our fleet for millions of customers – and it also cements electric and battery as the long-term power source of choice for our fleet.
UK railway chaos as 1980s train replacements won't be delivered until 2030 Commuters forced to travel with the UK's "worst-performing rail operator" will be stuck with the same 40-year-old trains for the next five years.
