Latest Rail News

23.06.17

First Elizabeth Line train enters service in east London and Essex

Passengers in east-London and Essex were yesterday able to travel on the new state-of-the-art Elizabeth Line rolling stock for the first time.

After extensive testing and preparation, and the launch of the trains being pushed back by TfL, the train, part of TfL’s 66-strong Crossrail fleet that will operate on the new line, is now running on passenger services between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.

By Autumn, 11 trains will run on the route, which will initially be made up of seven carriages and be 160m in length. This will then be extended to nine carriages with a full length of 200m that can carry up to 1,500 passengers.

Elizabeth Line interior

The new rolling stock boasts a number of modern features, including air conditioning, walkthrough carriages, intelligent lighting and temperature control, as well as lightweight materials and regenerative braking that will use up to 30% less energy than older trains.

The trains will eventually run along the Elizabeth Line through central London when it is fully opened after new rail tunnels are completed in December 2018.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he was delighted that the first state-of-the-art Elizabeth line train had entered service on the TfL Rail service.

“It gives Londoners a first look at a new service that will transform travel across London and the south east when the line opens,” he said. “The Crossrail programme remains on time and on budget, and the huge success of this project shows how vital it is for the whole of the country that we also push ahead with Crossrail 2.” 

Elizabeth Line interior 3

And Mike Brown MVO, London’s Transport Commissioner, called it an important day for rail travel and for the millions of passengers who will use the Elizabeth Line when services start in December next year.

“The introduction of this first train gives customers a feel for the huge improvements that are to come when the Elizabeth line opens,” he added.

Rail minister Paul Maynard said: “We are delivering the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century and these new trains will transform the way people travel across London and beyond.

“This investment reflects our commitment, and that of train operators, to put passengers at the heart of everything we do and will improve journeys and target congestion.”

Elizabeth Line interior 2

Finally, Joe Bednall, Bombardier’s project director, added that the team at Bombardier were proud to has been involved “from the design stage to the building and testing of a train as technically advanced, within record timescales”. 

"It is a truly magnificent achievement for UK engineering, our world class manufacturing and assembly facility in Derby as well as our supply chain,” concluded Bednall.

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Comments

Andrew Gwilt   23/06/2017 at 17:42

The Class 345's should soon replace the Class 315's either late this year or next year. Not to mention the London Overground Class 710's that will also be the same design but will be 4 carriages and are 80cm long and will soon replace the Class 315's and Class 317's on the Liverpool Street-Cheshunt, Chingford and Enfield Town Lea Valley line services and Romford-Upminster Line shuttle service and to replace the Class 172's on the electrified Gospel Oak-Barking Line and Class 378's on the Euston-Watford Junction DC Line with Class 378's moved to East London Line and South London Line services.

Andrew G   23/06/2017 at 17:47

One of the staff told me yesterday at Shenfield that the doors on one of the Class 345's trains didn't seem to work and had a fault. Hope there won't be any more faults with the Class 345's as more are on to be delivered. That's going to cause more teething problems with what Bombardier are continuing to manufacture the Class 345's.

Jerry Alderson   23/06/2017 at 19:08

I am pleased to see modern CIS screens on board the trains. It is bringing Britain up to the level that operators on the European mainland have had for several years. I write this whilst travelling back to London on Eurostar. They do not use their CIS well - although it's nice to know I am travelling at 294 km/h - and neither does Thameslink, where it helpfully tells me the status of London Underground lines but it does it both when travelling to London and away from it. As I arrive in Bedford do I really want value CIS screen time taken up with the state of each LUL line? CIS content needs to be focused on the needs of passengers, not just as an excuse to show off new (for Britain) technology.

London Train And Tube Fanatic & DLR Lover   24/06/2017 at 20:37

The London Overground Class 710's will be exactly the same as the Class 345's but will be 4 carriages. And will serve some of the London Overground lines including: Liverpool Street-Cheshunt Liverpool Street-Chingford Liverpool Street-Enfield Town To replace the Class 315's and Class 317's. Romford-Upminster To replace the Class 315's and Class 317's. Gospel Oak-Barking/Barking Riverside To replace the Class 172's. Euston-Watford Junction DC To replace the Class 378's to be used on East London Line and South London Line.

   26/06/2017 at 04:43

Kunwang   26/06/2017 at 06:37

本车百分之90的内装是在我们这里完成的.其中有我们KTK集团的劳动成果.

Mark Hare   27/06/2017 at 11:44

@Andrew Gwilt - I look forward to travelling on a train that is 80cm long, although I foresee capacity issues. Are these new Class 710s OO-gauge by any chance?

Paul   24/07/2017 at 00:08

Travelled Liverpool St to Shenfield on a new Elizabeth train, back on the old rolling stock. Great improvement apart from the hardness of the seats. A noticeably thicker and softer seat squab on the old ones. Please investigate and change before too many enter service!

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