New trains coming to London’s Elizabeth line
Construction has begun on the first of 10 new trains that will be rolled out to the Elizabeth line in London to meet the massive demand for the service.
Transport for London (TfL) said that since it opened in 2022, the Elizabeth line has quickly become the busiest railway service in the United Kingdom, facilitating an average of 800,000 journeys per day.
The new Aventra Class 345 trains are being constructed by Alstom in Derby and will increase capacity on the Elizabeth line while also being slated to serve HS2’s new Old Oak Common station once it is ready.
Aventra Class 345 trains are already deployed on the Elizabeth line, and have been praised by commuters for their size and comfort. This latest order of 10 more trains will take the total fleet of these trains in service to 80.
Those travelling in London have embraced the Elizabeth line, leading to a positive impact on housebuilding and employment across its network.
A report cited by TfL revealed that the line is responsible for an additional 71,000 trips across London’s transport network each day.
The benefits of the Elizabeth line are most apparent for those who live and work in south-east London. TfL noted that trip times to most London stations from Abbey Wood have been cut by 20 to 40 minutes thanks to the Elizabeth line, and journey times between Canary Wharf and Abbey Wood have been almost halved.
TfL also said that Elizabeth line stations were becoming hubs for housebuilding and job creation, with data revealing that 125,000 new jobs were registered and 70,500 housing units planned within one kilometre of an Elizabeth line station.
Going forward, TfL plans to extend the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Thamesmead via Beckton Riverside, with the goal of improving connectivity across the Thames and supporting job and home creation in London.
“The start of production of 10 new trains in Derby is testament to the popularity and success of the Elizabeth line and shows how it is driving growth well beyond London, boosting employment and powering industry across the UK,” said London Transport Commissioner Andy Lord.
“This new report also illustrates the extent to which the line is driving up public transport use in London, speeding up travel on the network and driving regeneration through homebuilding.”
“It also indicates significant housing potential beyond the line – particularly at Thamesmead Waterfront, which our transformative plans to extend the DLR, via Beckton Riverside, would support,” Lord said.
