| |
NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ -
Paris, Île-de-France, France, 2026/09/01 - The first of ten new Derby-built Class 345 Aventra Elizabeth line trains has begun passenger service in London, following an extensive period of testing on the mainline railway by Alstom, Transport for London and the operator GTS - Alstom.com. FR0010220475; ALO
|
| |
• Derby-built trains will support increasing passenger demand on the UK’s single busiest railway service;
• Class 345 No. 345071 began serving passengers on London’s Elizabeth line on Friday 28 August.
The new trains, delivered with Government funding, will support increased passenger demand, including at High Speed Two's (HS2’s) Old Oak Common railway station when it opens.
The electric multiple units (EMUs) are being built at Alstom’s historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works, with the train manufacturer's supply chain supporting almost 40 companies across the UK totalling more than 1,000 employees.
Each nine-carriage Elizabeth line train contains five miles of welding, 50 miles of cabling, and more than 47,700 screws and 31,700 bolts.
"Seeing the first of the additional ten Elizabeth line units enter passenger service is a special moment for everyone involved at our Derby site as well as all those across the country involved in their creation," said Nimesh Tailor, Project Director Elizabeth line + at Alstom.
He added: "I am incredibly proud of what the team in Derby has achieved, and know their commitment to deliver the remaining nine trains will continue with the same rigour, passion and dedication. This milestone once again demonstrates Derby's capability to deliver complex and high-quality rolling stock projects that benefit passengers and local economies across the UK and around the world."
Class 345 Aventra No. 345071 was accepted by the customer on Tuesday 25 August and began passenger service on Friday 28 August.
Celebrating its 150th birthday this year, Derby Litchurch Lane Works is Alstom’s largest global facility, and the UK’s only train factory able to design, engineer, build and test trains for domestic and export markets.
The site delivered more than 2,660 Aventra carriages for UK train operators between 2017 and 2024. Following Aventra’s success, Litchurch Lane is now a Centre of Excellence and Alstom’s global hub for the new-generation Adessia train platform.
Alstom™ and Adessia™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.
About Alstom
Alstom (alstom.com) commits to contribute to a low carbon future by developing and promoting innovative and sustainable transportation solutions that people enjoy riding. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, Alstom offers its diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. With its presence in 63 countries and a talent base of over 86,000 people from 184 nationalities, the company focuses its design, innovation, and project management skills to where mobility solutions are needed most. Listed in France, Alstom generated sales of €18.5 billion for the fiscal year ending on 31 March 2025.
|
mediarelations[.]alstomgroup.com 
