UK: The first of 66 Class 345 electric multiple-units for London’s future Elizabeth Line entered passenger service on June 22.
TfL Rail is initially operating one off-peak return trip per day between Liverpool Street and Shenfield using a Class 345. Transport for London expects a further 10 of the EMUs to be in service by the autumn.
These will initially comprise seven cars and be 160 m long so that they can use the existing platforms at Liverpool Street. Nine-car sets 200 m long with a capacity of 1 500 passengers are expected to be introduced from May 2018.
Bombardier is building the fleet at its Derby plant. The high-capacity air-conditioned walkthrough trains from the Aventra family are equipped with intelligent lighting and temperature control, wheelchair spaces, CCTV and three sets of double doors per car for rapid boarding and alighting.
Services will be branded Elizabeth Line once the tunnel under central London opens in December 2018. Services on the full route from Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east to Reading and Heathrow Airport in the west are due to begin a year later.
