The first of 10 new Class 345 EMUs for the Elizabeth Line, No 345071, is undergoing testing at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane plant. Having left the production lines in Derby, the nine-car train will shortly head south for testing around London and on the central section of the Elizabeth Line before entering revenue-earning service later this year.
TfL says 850 million journeys have now been made on the route since it opened in May 2022: when the 10 extra trains enter service, it says the ‘345’ fleet will be almost 10 miles long and have a total capacity of 120,000.
The trains were ordered to boost capacity ahead of the opening of High Speed 2’s Old Oak Common station, which has interchange platforms on the Great Western main line. They are all expected to be in traffic in 2027.
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