UK: Turntide Technologies is expanding LFP rail battery production at its Sunderland plant to supply new Grand Central tri-mode trains scheduled to enter service in 2028.

Grand Central Class 180 train on electrified railway tracks, used as an illustrative image of the operator’s current fleet.
A Grand Central Class 180 train in current operator context; this image does not show the new tri-mode fleet. Photo: Samson Ng · D201@EAL / CC BY-SA 4.0

Turntide Technologies announced the expansion on July 22. The Sunderland facility will become the exclusive manufacturing location for the company’s high-voltage lithium iron phosphate systems for rail applications.

The plant already has the production space and testing facilities needed for the additional work. Paul Turbitt, Turntide’s senior director of strategic operations, will oversee the Sunderland site and the manufacturing expansion. The company has not disclosed the planned capacity increase, investment value, job numbers or a completion date.

Sunderland battery line supports Grand Central fleet

The move follows Turntide’s initial production order from Hitachi Rail, which advanced an earlier research and development collaboration into production. The battery systems will be installed on Arriva’s new Grand Central fleet, while Hitachi Rail will build the trains at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham.

Arriva’s fleet programme covers nine five-car trains, or 45 railcars, and a 10-year maintenance agreement. The investment is valued at around £300 million, with deliveries planned for 2028.

The trains will replace Grand Central’s existing fleet and provide 20% more seats. Arriva estimates that the additional capacity will make about 400,000 more seats available each year on services linking North East England and Yorkshire with London.

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LFP batteries enable tri-mode operation

Tri-mode trains can draw power from electrified infrastructure, use batteries or run on diesel where necessary. This allows one fleet to work across routes containing both electrified and non-electrified sections, while battery operation can reduce diesel use around stations and other urban areas.

Turntide says its modular LFP system is designed to deliver greater power density within the footprint of a diesel engine. The technology moved toward production after a 2024 UK intercity trial, and Arriva expects the new fleet to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by around 30%.

The Sunderland expansion therefore connects a confirmed battery production order with Grand Central’s 2028 fleet renewal. For now, however, Turntide has announced the manufacturing expansion without publishing a commissioning timetable for the enlarged line.

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