Work has begun on the first of 10 new trains built in Derby for London's Elizabeth line.
The Aventra Class 345 trains are being built by Alstom at their factory in Derby, supporting jobs in a city which has been a railway hub since 1839.
The new carriages are set to to help deal with its staggering number of journeys which average out at 800,000 a day.
Transport for London (TfL) said today (Mon) that the service, affectionately known as the 'Lizzy line', will receive the trains to help support its growth and popularity.
Since opening in 2022, the line has quickly become the single busiest service in Britain.
TfL said the new trains which were ordered with UK Government funding, will also allow increased capacity on the existing line, further driving the economy by boosting connections and serving HS2’s new Old Oak Common station in the future.
Since the Elizabeth line opened an additional 71,000 trips are estimated to have been made across London’s entire transport network each weekday
Customers have also benefitted from an 11 per cent drop in step-free journey times, based on average public transport journeys, TfL said.
Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “The start of production of 10 new trains in Derby is 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.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “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 1000 skilled jobs in Derby and ensuring London’s transport network keeps pace with growing demand."
Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom, said: "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."
1. The Elizabeth line undertakes a staggering number of journeys - estimated at 800,000 a day.
Aventra Class 345 trains | TFL / SWNS
2. TfL said that the service - affectionately known as the 'Lizzy line' - is getting an injection to help support its popularity
Aventra Class 345 trains | TFL / SWNS
3. The new trains ordered with UK Government funding will also allow increased capacity on the existing line, further driving the economy by boosting connections and serving HS2’s new Old Oak Common station in the future
Aventra Class 345 trains | TFL / SWNS
4. The new carriages will allow TfL to increase capacity on the existing line, further driving the economy by boosting connections and serving HS2's new Old Oak Common station in the future.
Aventra Class 345 trains | (L>R):Andy Butters Alstom's Managing Director Derby, Andy Lord, London Transport Commissioner, Rob Whyte, Alstom's Managing Director UK & Ireland, Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport, Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, Cllr Nadine Peatfield - Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands and Leader of Derby City Council, Baggy Shanker MP - Derby South, Trish Ashton, TfL's Director of Rail, Elaine Clark OBE - CEO of Rail Forum, Chris Fowler - Managing Director of GTS Rail Operations Ltd. | TFL / SWNS