TfL’s new maintenance trains will provide high levels of monitoring and maintenance, as well as reduce maintenance costs for the Elizabeth line. Credit: spoilt.exile (Flickr).

Transport for London (TfL) is to receive three new maintenance trains for its new Elizabeth line, which is scheduled to open in December this year.

The maintenance trains, which comprise a new rail milling train and two multi-purpose engineering trains, are currently being tested in Europe.

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They are expected to provide high levels of monitoring and maintenance, as well as reduce maintenance costs for the Elizabeth line.

TfL’s new rail milling train is the first of its kind in the UK and has been designed to scan the railway tracks using electromagnetic crack detection for any defects.

Following the detection of any issues, the 48m-long train can mill the surface of the rail to remove defects and cracks to reduce wear on the Elizabeth line train wheels and the tracks.

The train is also capable of collecting metal chips in one of its containers and recycle them as high-quality scrap metal.

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“The Elizabeth line’s two multi-purpose engineering trains have been provided by Plasser UK and produced by Germany’s ROBEL Bahnbaumaschinen.”

Built by Austria-based company Linsinger, the milling train will help eliminate the problems of sparks, fire and dust created by traditional rail grinding trains.

The train will feature two drivers’ cabs and space for up to four staff members, as well as a welfare facility.

The Elizabeth line’s two multi-purpose engineering trains have been provided by Plasser UK and produced by Germany’s ROBEL Bahnbaumaschinen.

Depending on the task, the trains can be configured to be between 40m and 80m long.

Each of the multi-purpose trains features a gantry system that provides the capability to change a five tonne, 35m switch rail within the short overnight engineering hours.

They can also be customised for different purposes using cranes, a scissor lift for working on overhead line equipment or cabling, as well as a water tank and jet for drainage clearance and tunnel cleaning.

All three maintenance trains will feature the Elizabeth line’s new central section signalling system, allowing them to move around the railway tracks along with the passenger trains to maximise the time spent working during the night.

Upon competition of the Elizabeth line’s stations, the trains will be used to transport new rail, platform screen doors, station transformers and perform other tasks.

GB Rail freight (GBRf) will operate and maintain the trains for five years under a contract awarded by TfL.