Hitachi Rail awarded Turntide Technologies a contract to supply Gen 2 lithium iron phosphate LFP battery system for Grand Central intercity battery trains.
The GBP 10 million (EUR 11.6 million) contract will see Turntide Technologies to continue R&D and supply LFP batteries. This commitment creates valuable backlog and pipeline for Turntide Technologies over the coming years and will result in the expansion of their Gateshead facility.
Turntide Technologies will supply next-generation LFP batteries, which are designed to be smaller and more powerful than previous lithium-ion batteries.
In addition to the battery systems, Turntide’s solution includes an advanced battery management system featuring Safety Integrity Level 2 functional safety to detect and mitigate hazards in the event of system failures. It also meets IEC 62243 cybersecurity standards, ensuring safe, secure, and reliable performance for next-generation mobility.
“As battery-electric trains gain global momentum, we’re honored to support a project that represents not just regional progress, but a broader shift toward sustainable transport across continents,” Steve Hornyak, CEO of Turntide Technologies, said.
With Turntide based in Gateshead (in the Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England) and Hitachi Rail’s factory in Newton Aycliffe, this continued partnership ensures that rolling stock manufacturing can unlock new growth in the North East battery sector. Both companies believe that new battery trains, and retrofitting batteries onto existing trains, can create a sizeable and long-term advanced manufacturing and industrial opportunity for U.K.
This investment in battery technology also comes in the 200th anniversary of the railways being born in the North East, highlighting how the region is a global leader in shaping the future of transport.
“Our additional £10 million investment into Turntide Technologies demonstrates our commitment to North East battery innovation. Battery trains aren’t just about delivering greener, quieter journeys—they also create a new advanced manufacturing opportunity and unlock energy optimization through vehicle-to-grid technology,” Koji Agatsuma, Chief Technology Officer Vehicles, Hitachi Rail said.
This order comes after Hitachi Rail was awarded in April 2025 a contract to build nine battery hybrid trains intercity (tri-mode) trains for Arriva’s Grand Central and Angel Trains. These will be the first new battery trains manufactured in the U.K.
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