The UK's Transport for London (TfL) has launched the first of the 66 new Class 345 trains for use on Crossrail's Elizabeth line.
The trains, featuring walk-through carriages, air conditioning, CCTV for passenger security and real-time travel information, are part of Bombardier’s Aventra product family.
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TfL commissioner Mike Brown said: “The Elizabeth line trains, which are a great showcase of British design and manufacture, will be running on part of our network within a year.”
Upon completion of testing at Bombardier's Derby plant, the first train will undergo trials at the Old Dalby test centre in Leicestershire to ensure compliance with TfL's high safety, performance and reliability requirements.
The testing will include loading the trains with more than 100t of weight to simulate being full of passengers, and taking a complete carriage to a climatic chamber to ensure passengers will be kept comfortable at the extremes of temperature.
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Following the trials, testing equipment will be removed from the first trains and the interiors of the trains will be fitted with seats and moquette seat-covers before delivery for passenger service.
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By GlobalDataThe first trains will initially be seven carriages and 160m long to fit existing platforms at Liverpool Street, TfL said in a statement.
The 200m-long, nine carriage trainsets with a capacity to accommodate up to 1,500 people will be introduced from May 2018, initially between Heathrow and Paddington.
Made out of lightweight materials, each train will regenerate electricity back into the power supply when the train brakes, using up to 30% less energy.
The Elizabeth line will servie the West End, City and Docklands and running from Reading and Heathrow in the west across to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, through 40 accessible stations and will be fully operational in 2019.
UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport Lord Ahmad said: “The Elizabeth Line and its new trains are a great example of our commitment to improve passenger journeys by investing in one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes ever undertaken in the UK.
“This investment will transform the way people travel across London and beyond. And it doesn't stop here.
“The Government is spending record amounts on upgrading the rail network, providing a huge boost to capacity to keep Britain moving, support economic growth and bring our country closer together.”
Image: New trains on the production line for Elizabeth line in UK. Photo: courtesy of Transport for London.
