A fleet of new 125mph electric trains are set to run on TransPennine Express services between Manchester and Scotland.

Twelve trains with a total of 60 carriages, which should arrive on the Manchester -Liverpool-Glasgow-Edinburgh route by 2019, are part of a new investment of £230m.

That cash will also buy 13 trains to run between Liverpool and Newcastle - a further boost for the north.

In total, it means TransPennine Express, which runs on services between northern cities, has bought 126 brand new carriages.

It comes after the operator bought 19 five-carriage Hitachi trains on the launch of the new franchise in April.

In all, the fleets will provide an extra 13m seats a year - enough to fill the Old Trafford stadium more than 150 times.

The 12 new Manchester trains will be five-carriage Civity UK electric vehicles financed by Eversholt Rail.

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The InterCity carriages, to operate initially between Liverpool and Newcastle, are financed by Beacon Rail Leasing.

In total, the 44 brand new trains are promised to more than double seat numbers on intercity routes in the north by 2019.

And it means the vast majority of services will operate with at least five carriages as opposed to the current three.

Leo Goodwin, managing director, said: “This will enable us to transform the customer experience over the life of our franchise and our three new train fleets will form a key part of this improvement.

“Whether travelling to work, for business or leisure, our services are going to offer more seats, improved connectivity and a higher standard of comfort. The on-board experience will be second to none and we will provide customers with a real alternative to the car and congested road network.”

He promised every TPE train will have free wifi, streaming tools, on-board passenger information, modern and spacious seating, air con and power sockets for every seat.

Coun Liam Robinson, Chairman of the Rail North Limited Board said: “This commitment from TPE to introduce another, much needed, 25 brand new trains will help to deliver on these requirements. The capacity improvement on state of the art, intercity standard trains is exactly what is needed and will help drive the North forward, supporting improved connectivity across the region.”