PASSENGERS on the trans-Pennine rail route through Huddersfield are to get new trains.

Operator First TransPennine Express is spending £250m on 51 trains to run on the service, which links the town with major cities Leeds, Hull, Newcastle, Manchester and Liverpool.

The trains are being built by Siemens Transportation Systems in Germany, but will be maintained by Siemens staff at service centres in York and Manchester.

The first of the 100mph Class 185 Pennine diesel trains was unveiled by Siemens yesterday.

The fleet was ordered in September, 2003. The first of the trains will come into service next spring, with the whole fleet operational by the end of January, 2007.

Moir Lockhead, chief executive of First Group - which also runs buses in the Huddersfield area - said: "This major investment underlines our commitment to transforming travel across the UK.

"We have developed an unrivalled track record for introducing new trains to rail franchises to benefit millions of passengers in their daily journeys."

The Class 185 Pennine trains will be the fourth new train fleet introduced by First Group to the UK network.

First said the new trains boasted improved reliability, power, acceleration and passenger comfort.

Features include air conditioning, better seating, a first-class section, security cameras and easier access for disabled people.

The first new train is due to arrive in England before Christmas, ready for testing and commissioning.

First TransPennine will lease the new trains from HSBC Rail, which is part of the HSBC banking group and specialises in supplying rolling stock for freight and passenger services.

The trains will operate for the length of First TransPennine's franchise, which runs until February, 2012 - or until 2017 if the term is extended after a five-year review by the Government's Transport Department.