UK Train Companies

TransPennine Express (TPE), legally First TransPennine Express Limited, is a British rail operating company owned by FirstGroup that operates the TransPennine Express franchise. It operates regional and intercity rail services between major towns and villages in the north of England and Scotland. The franchise operates almost all of its services to and through Manchester, covering three main routes. The service provides rail links to major cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Sheffield, Hull, Leeds, York, Scarborough, Middlesbrough and Newcastle. TPE runs trains 24 hours a day, including through New Year's Eve. TPE trains run between York, Leeds and Manchester Airport at least every three hours every weeknight. The franchise operates on the West Coast Main Line, the Huddersfield Line, the East Coast Main Line and part of the Tees Valley Line. The majority of TPE's rolling stock was purchased in the late 2010s as part of Project Nova. This includes BMU Nova 1 (Class 802), EMU Nova 2 Class 397 CAF Civity, and Nova 3 Mark 5A fixed formation cars coupled with Class 68 diesel locomotives. These have replaced older rolling stock, such as the Bombardier Turbostar 170/3 and Siemens Desiro 350/4, as well as some of their Siemens Desiro 185s, although they are still used on some routes. The MSEs have facilitated an operational shift to more intercity-type services, although the commuter market remains important.