Alstom has started construction of an order from Transport for London (TfL) for ten new Aventra Class 345 trains for the Elizabeth Line.

Alstom is building the new trains at its factory in Derby, which has been a railway hub since 1839.

Since the Elizabeth Line opened, it is estimated that 71,000 extra trips have been made across London’s transport network each weekday.

In Abbey Wood, in southeast London, without the Elizabeth Line, 16 per cent of journeys on public transport starting in the area would not have taken place.

After it opened in 2022, over 350 million journeys were made in the first two years of operation, and it is now the UK’s busiest railway service, with an average of 800,000 journeys being made each day. The new trains will enable an increase in capacity, including to HS2’s new London terminus at Old Oak Common.

Passengers have benefited from the line by an 11 per cent reduction in journey times, with travel time from Abbey Wood to central London being reduced by 20 to 40 minutes, and journey times reduced by almost 50 per cent between Canary Wharf and Abbey Wood.

Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, commented that the start of production of ten new trains in Derby is a testament to the popularity and success of the Elizabeth line, and shows how it is driving growth well beyond London, boosting employment and powering industry across the UK.

The line is driving up public transport use in London, speeding up travel on the network and driving regeneration through homebuilding, with significant housing potential beyond the line. particularly at Thamesmead Waterfront.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander added that thanks to over £220m in Government funding, TfL’s order for new Elizabeth line trains is a shining example of how public investment in our railways delivers for communities across the country, supporting more than 1,000 skilled jobs in Derby and ensuring London’s transport network keeps pace with growing demand.

“Our historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works are crucial to the country’s economic growth, being the only UK factory where you can design, engineer, build and test a train from scratch for both domestic and export markets. Therefore, not only will these new Aventra trains enable Transport for London to continue successfully operating the Elizabeth line as passenger demand grows, they continue to support high-value manufacturing and supply chain jobs in the East Midlands and across the UK. We look forward to our new Elizabeth line trains joining the existing fleet, which are maintained by us around the clock at our state-of-the-art depot at Old Oak Common.”

Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom