sponsored by

The future of cross-London travel arrives
David McQuade - June 28, 2017

Customers were today given their first chance to travel on the state-of-the-art trains that will serve the Elizabeth line when the new rail tunnels open through central London in December next year.

Following extensive testing and preparation, the train, part of a fleet of 66 that will operate on the new line, is now operating in passenger service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield on the TfL Rail route.

Eleven trains will be introduced on the route by the autumn and will initially be 160 metres long and made up of seven carriages.

They will later be extended to nine carriages and the full length of 200 metres to carry up to 1,500 people.

Key features of the trains include:

  • Air-conditioning
  • Walk-through carriages
  • Dedicated wheelchair spaces and additional multi-use spaces for buggies and luggage
  • Intelligent lighting and temperature control
  • CCTV for passenger security
  • Three sets of double doors along each carriage for quicker and easier boarding and alighting
  • Improved travel information for passengers to plan their onward journeys
  • Lightweight materials and regenerative braking that will use up to 30 per cent less energy than older trains

The trains are being built at Bombardier Transportation’s UK site, showcasing British design and manufacture and helping to support 760 UK jobs and 80 apprenticeships in Derby.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

I’m delighted that our first state-of-the-art Elizabeth line train has 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.

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.”