Alstom has announced that the first of ten brand-new Elizabeth line trains has left the production line at its Litchurch Lane site in Derby.
The unit, Class 345 No. 345071, has now entered a final checking phase on the factory’s Test Track, and is soon set to undergo a period of trials on lines near London, as well as the Elizabeth line itself, before entering passenger service later this year.
This milestone comes alongside the celebration of the Elizabeth line’s four-year anniversary, which has become the UK’s single busiest railway service since it opened in May 2022 – providing more than 850 million passenger journeys.
Once the new trains are complete, the Elizabeth line’s total fleet will be almost ten miles long, and feature a capacity of around 120,000 people – more than can fit into London’s Wembley stadium.
Andy Butters, Managing Director of Derby Litchurch Lane Works at Alstom, 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.
These new trains will help meet growing demand on the Elizabeth line while supporting highly skilled jobs in Derby and our nationwide supply chain. It’s a powerful example of how investment in London’s transport network delivers real economic benefits across the UK, with Derby continuing to play a central role in Britain’s rail industry – as it has done since 1839.
Each nine-carriage Elizabeth line train manufactured at Alstom’s 150-year-old factory contains five miles of welding, 50 miles of cabling, and more than 47,700 screws and 31,700 bolts. The new trains will be manufactured, tested and introduced into service over this year and next.
Trish Ashton, Director of Rail at Transport for London (TfL), said:More than 850 million customer journeys have now been made on the Elizabeth line, and it’s fantastic to see the first of the ten new trains leaving the factory.
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.
All ten of the new Aventra Class 345 trains are being delivered with the help of Government funding in order to meet growing demand on the Elizabeth line, both increasing capacity and serving the new Old Oak Common station for HS2 in the future.
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.
As these fantastic new trains leave the factory to help meet growing demand on the line, the Mayor and I are excited to continue working hand in hand with TfL and the Government to unleash the full potential of our transport network, as we continue building a more prosperous London for everyone.
