How time
flies! We are already in August now and I have some news regarding TFL as they
have unveiled the new Crossrail
Elizabeth Line ‘Class 345’ train at Bombardier Transportation test track in
Derby.
From TFL press release
The first of the new state-of-the-art Elizabeth line trains, which will transform travel
across the Capital, was unveiled by TfL today as it took to the test track at
Bombardier Transportation in Derby.
In total a fleet of 66 new trains will operate on the TfL-run line, serving 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.
The new 'Class 345' trains will enter service
in May 2017 on TfL Rail between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. The first
trains will initially be seven carriages and 160 metres long to fit existing
platforms at Liverpool Street.
Regenerate
electricity
The nine
carriage, 200 metre-long trains, each are able to carry up to 1,500 people, will be introduced from May 2018, initially between Heathrow
and Paddington. All the trains feature walk-through
carriages, air conditioning, CCTV for passenger security and real-time
travel information.
Each one is constructed from lightweight
materials and will regenerate electricity back into the power supply when the
train brakes, using up to 30% less
energy.
When fully open in 2019, the Elizabeth line
will increase central London's rail
capacity, carrying over half a million passengers per day, helping TfL to
keep pace with London's growing population, which is set to rise from 8.6
million today to around 10 million by 2030.
Val Shawcross, Deputy Mayor for Transport,
said: 'These state-of-the-art trains will play a key role in London's future -
helping to deliver a modern, world class transport system through the new
Elizabeth line and enabling London's transport network to cope as our
population rises.
'Alongside the new and modernised stations they
will serve, the new trains will transform travel across London and will make
life better for millions of Londoners.'
Great
showcase of British design
Mike Brown MVO, London's Transport Commissioner
went to inspect the new train today. He 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.
'The trains are fully accessible, will have air
cooling, and once the whole line opens, they will help our passengers move more
easily into and across the city every day.'
Improve
passenger journeys
Transport Minister, 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.'
The new trains are being built and tested at
Bombardier Transportation's UK site, helping to support 760 UK jobs and 80
apprenticeships.
Flagship
project
Peter Doolin, Bombardier Transportation's Vice
President Projects, Crossrail & London Underground, said: 'Bombardier is
delighted to be working with TfL on this flagship project to deliver new the
Elizabeth line trains, which are based on our very latest Aventra product
family, a new technology leading train for the UK.
'We look forward to continuing to work together
with TfL in manufacturing, testing and introducing these new trains into
service in London.'
The first train will now undergo a rigorous
testing programme in Derby and from next month at the Old Dalby test centre in
Leicestershire. The trains will be extensively tested to ensure they meet TfL's
high safety, performance and reliability requirements.
They will be loaded with over one hundred
tonnes of weight to simulate being full of passengers, and testing includes
taking a complete carriage to a climatic chamber to ensure passengers will be
kept comfortable at the extremes of temperature London can experience.
Once trials are completed, testing equipment
will be removed from the first trains and the interiors of the trains will be completed with seats and moquette
seat-covers before delivery for passenger service.
·
The
first trains will be seven-carriages long operating between Liverpool Street
and Shenfield. The first full length, nine-carriage trains will be first introduced between Heathrow and
Paddington from May 2018.
·
When
fully operational in 2019 the Elizabeth
line will serve Reading and Heathrow
in the west through to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, passing through new tunnels under central London.
·
Transport
for London took over the running of stopping services from Liverpool Street out to Shenfield
in Essex on 31 May 2015, currently TfL
Rail.
·
The
trains are based on Bombardier's latest Aventra design which was designed in
the UK.
·
All
platforms and trains across the Elizabeth line network will be will be fully
accessible with step-free access and manual boarding ramps at stations where is
not possible to provide level boarding.
·
TfL and
train manufacturer Bombardier have worked on the designs of the new trains, based on Bombardier's latest generation Aventra train, with Barber &
Osgerby acting as design advisors on the project.
I should
mention that back in June 2016, the Siemens-built
‘Class 700’ train entered into service on the National Rail Thameslink
Line, and yes, I forgot to report on it!
Thameslink’s new Siemens-built Class 700 train has performed well as
it enjoyed its maiden voyage in passenger service on the 10.02 service from
Brighton to London Bridge.
Unit 700108, one of the 55 12-carriage trains
to be built, made a total of four trips on this route in the off-peak on Monday
(20 June) as it was given a “gentle introduction” to passenger service.
On Tuesday the train, which is capable of
carrying up to 1,750 in air conditioned comfort, ran nine times between the two
stations helping move passengers caught up in the Southern conductors’ strike.
The train continues to be used on the four off-peak journeys after which it
will begin service on the wider Thameslink
route through central London to and from Bedford.
The
train’s features include:
·
Wider doors and aisles to make getting on and
off easier
·
Spacious
walkways between carriages to make it easier to move through the train to give
a greater sense of security Two-by-two seating to create more room
·
Lots of
luggage space – essential for airport travellers
·
Adaptive
climate-controlled air conditioning which adjusts to the number of passengers
to keep things comfortable
·
Electronic signs showing which carriages have
more space to sit or stand Screens with real time service information
·
Fully
accessible toilets for disabled passengers and those with pushchairs or needing
baby changing facilities
·
Spaces
for full-sized bikes in the off-peak; storage for fold-up bikes in the peak
Govia Thameslink Railway's Engineering Director
Gerry McFadden said: “We are thrilled that our new Thameslink train is performing
well. In future, as the train continues to prove itself, we will begin running
it across London to Bedford.
“Ultimately the train will give passengers
much-needed additional capacity with longer trains throughout the rush-hour,
creating at least 1,000 extra standard
class seats.”
On board the very first service on Monday was
Brighton’s Middle Street School which was taking a group of 35 six-year-olds
dressed as pirates to see the Golden Hinde in London. Teachers said the new
train really added to the excitement.
Anita, a Brighton businesswoman on board, was
pleased to hear that peak hour services from Brighton would be run in fixed formation with 12-carriages –
half as long again as most Thameslink trains today.
Another passenger, Roger Felkis of Haywards
Heath, said: “The wide gangways mean I
can get past suitcases without problems. The train’s smooth and
comfortable.”
There were also cyclists returning from
Sunday’s London to Brighton bike ride who made use of the dedicated bike
storage area.
This was the first of the trains to enter
service. GTR’s intention is to run the 12-carriage trains in the peak from
Brighton. It means Thameslink will have at least 1,000 extra standard class
seats from the town in the morning peak once the new fleet and timetable is
introduced.
Ultimately there will be 115 new trains running
on an expanded Thameslink network to additional destinations such as
Peterborough and Cambridge. In total, 55 of these will be in 12-carriage formation
and 60 will have eight carriages.
Siemens Thameslink Programme Director Dave
Hooper said: “This success represents a step change in cross-London commuter
train experience with the latest state-of-the-art train design and on board
systems equipment. This has been achieved by many people across our European
in-house team and supply chain in design, testing, train manufacturing and
depot construction. The service team at Three Bridges depot is very proud to
take over the leadership of these new trains from the development phase into
passenger service operation and we look forward to entering more new trains
into service over the coming months.”
Andy Pitt, Executive Chairman of Cross-London
Trains, said: “I am delighted that the new Class 700 trains are entering into
passenger service. It’s great to see that passengers are starting to benefit
from the massive investment in this brand new train fleet which will deliver
much needed additional capacity to the rail network.”
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