Elizabeth line Aventra trains being built by Alstom have reached a new stage. The first of ten additional units is now off the production line at Derby Litchurch Lane Works.

Elizabeth Line Aventra Trains Advance in Derby
Class 345 No. 345071 at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works. Copyright: Mark Foxall

Class 345 No. 345071⁠ is set to move next to trials on railway lines near London. It will also be tested on the Elizabeth line before entering passenger service later this year. The trains are being built to help meet rising demand on the route. Once the full order is delivered, they will support a total Elizabeth line capacity of around 120,000 people.

The milestone comes as the Elizabeth line marks its fourth anniversary. Since opening in May 2022, the railway has handled more than 850 million passenger journeys. It has also become the UK’s busiest single railway service. When the ten new trains are complete, the full Elizabeth line fleet will measure almost ten miles in length. Its total capacity will be greater than London’s Wembley stadium.

Alstom Derby work supports Elizabeth line capacity

Alstom is producing the Class 345 trains at its long-established Litchurch Lane factory in Derby. The city has been associated with British railway manufacturing since 1839. Derby Litchurch Lane Works opened in 1876. Today, it is the only remaining UK facility able to design, engineer, manufacture and test trains from scratch for both domestic and export markets.

The programme also connects investment in London’s transport network with industrial activity beyond the capital. Alstom’s supply chain linked to the work supports almost 40 companies and more than 1,000 employees.

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,”

He added:

“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-car Elizabeth line train built at Alstom’s 150-year-old Derby factory contains five miles of welding. It also contains 50 miles of cabling, more than 47,700 screws and 31,700 bolts. The additional trains are due to be manufactured, tested and introduced into service during this year and next.

Trish Ashton, Director of Rail at Transport for London, 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,”

Government funding backs new Class 345 trains

The ten new Aventra Class 345 trains are being delivered with Government funding⁠. They are intended to increase capacity on the Elizabeth line. In the future, they will also serve the new Old Oak Common station for High Speed Two (HS2).

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,”

He added:

“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.”

Elizabeth line demand reaches Excel London

New data from Excel London⁠ shows how the Elizabeth line is driving demand across London’s economy. The effect is particularly visible in business tourism. Almost half of visitors, 49 per cent, now travel via nearby Custom House station. They use fast direct links to Heathrow and across the capital.

Since the Elizabeth line opened, visitor numbers at Excel London have increased by nearly 20 per cent. Visitors are also staying longer for networking and meetings. The figures underline the growing popularity of the Elizabeth line. They also show the importance of introducing new trains to help meet demand.

Jeremy Rees, Chief Executive Officer of Excel London, said:

“Without doubt, the Elizabeth line has been transformational for the events industry, removing the friction of travel across the city and reviving London’s business tourism economy. From our own independent research, we have seen a 20 per cent increase in visitor numbers to Excel London as a direct result of the Elizabeth line and leading to record-breaking attendances for many of our flagship trade shows,”

He added:

“The most significant change though has been the increase in visitor durations – now an average of 7.5 hours – driven by faster journey times encouraging guests to stay longer, network more extensively, and conduct additional business.”