First of Ten Extra Elizabeth Line Trains Enters Passenger Service in London

The first of ten additional Class 345 Aventra trains for London's Elizabeth line has entered passenger service, unit 345071 beginning work on the UK's busiest railway at the end of August.

Built at Alstom's Litchurch Lane factory in Derby, the train rolled off the production line in June and completed testing on lines around London before its first passenger runs. The second unit, 345072, has been delivered and is undergoing final tests ahead of entry into service.

The ten-train, government-funded order was placed in 2024 both to meet surging demand on the Elizabeth line and to sustain workload at Alstom's Derby plant. The extra capacity is also needed ahead of the opening of HS2, whose trains will initially terminate at Old Oak Common in west London — where large numbers of passengers will transfer to Elizabeth line services to reach central London.

The new trains will not initially increase service frequency: they will cover for the existing 70-strong fleet as it cycles through mid-life maintenance. Transport for London has indicated it will look at timetable increases once that programme completes, likely towards the end of 2027, with options studied including up to 18 trains per hour between Paddington and Old Oak Common and up to 28 trains per hour through the central core.

Alstom says the full Class 345 fleet will offer capacity for approximately 120,000 passengers once all ten additional units are delivered.