The first of 10 new Elizabeth line trains is undergoing final checks ahead of carrying passengers for the first time later this year. The train is being put through its paces on manufacturer Alstom's on-site test track in Derby, having left the production line.
New Trains to Boost Capacity
The new Aventra Class 345 trains are being built with Government funding to help meet growing demand on the £18.9 billion Elizabeth line, which has become the UK's single busiest railway service. More than 850 million passenger journeys have been completed on the line since it opened in May 2022.
Trish Ashton, Director of Rail at Transport for London (TfL), said: "This is an important milestone in our journey towards increasing capacity on the line, meeting the growing demand for increased connectivity that we deliver for hundreds of thousands of customers every day."
Record-Breaking Line
More than 850 million passenger journeys have been completed on the Elizabeth Line since May 2022. Once the new trains are complete, the total Elizabeth line fleet will be almost 10 miles long. It will also have a total capacity of around 120,000 — about 30,000 more than Wembley stadium.
The first of the 10 new trains is set to undergo a period of trials on lines near London and the Elizabeth line itself before being put into passenger service later this year. The remaining trains are expected to be manufactured, tested and introduced into service over this year and next.
Manufacturing Details
Each nine-carriage Elizabeth line train leaving Alstom's 150-year-old Litchurch Lane factory in Derby will contain five miles of welding, 50 miles of cabling, and more than 47,700 screws and 31,700 bolts.
Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, said: "The Elizabeth line is a perfect example of how quality transport infrastructure can unlock opportunities for the people and places it connects, with this vital work in Derby showing how investing in the capital doesn't just benefit Londoners but drives wider economic growth across the country."
Andy Butters, Managing Director of Derby Litchurch Lane Works, said: "Seeing the first of our new Elizabeth line Aventra trains roll off the production line in Derby is a proud moment for everyone at Litchurch Lane. This milestone reflects the skill, dedication and craftsmanship of our teams, who are proudly building additional trains for one of the UK's most successful railway services."
The Elizabeth line runs east-west across London and its surrounding areas, taking passengers from Shenfield and Abbey Wood to Reading and Heathrow. It passes through central London and stops at a number of Underground stations, including Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street. Elizabeth line trains also stop at stations such as Liverpool Street, Paddington, Brentwood and Maidenhead.
