Elizabeth Line - Elizabeth Line Rolling Stock - J

Elizabeth Line - J

Elizabeth Line Rolling Stock

Services on the Elizabeth line are operated exclusively by a fleet of nine-car Class 345 trains that was procured especially for this purpose. The service specifications called for approximately 60 trains, each 200 metres (660 feet) long and capable of carrying up to 1,500 passengers, of which 57 would be in service at any one time.

In March 2011, Crossrail indicated that five bidders had been shortlisted as potential suppliers of both the new fleet and its depot facilities; Alstom, CAF, Siemens Mobility, Hitachi Rail, and Bombardier Transportation – although Alstom withdrew four months later. Crossrail issued invitations to negotiate to the remaining bidders in March 2012, with submission of tenders expected between June and August.

It was stipulated that bidders should offer a fleet based on technology that was "already developed", with the expectation that an "evolutionary, not revolutionary" product would help to ensure "value for money" and " the utmost reliability from day one".

Siemens withdrew their rolling stock bid in July 2013, citing an increase in other business and a need to protect their "ability to deliver... current customer commitments", which included the £1.6 billion Class 700 order for Thameslink. Their contract to supply Crossrail's signalling and control systems was unaffected.

In December 2013, the European Investment Bank (EIB) agreed to provide TfL loans of up to £500 million to fund the rolling stock procurement, following TfL's decision in March of that year to abandon plans to cover most of the cost with private financing.

TfL and the Department for Transport announced in early February 2014 that Bombardier's bid had been successful. The 32-year contract for the supply and maintenance of the trains and depot was valued at £1 billion. It included a firm order for 65 units from Bombardier's new Aventra family, plus an option for a further 18.

The trains have air-conditioning and are designed to be as accessible as possible, including wide aisles and gangways, dedicated areas for wheelchairs, audio and visual announcements, CCTV, and passenger intercoms connected to the driver for use in the event of emergency. They will run at up to 90 mph (140 km/h) on certain parts of the route.

Due to limited platform lengths at both Liverpool Street and Paddington National Rail stations, most Class 345 units were initially delivered as seven-car formations, then later extended to the intended nine.

The first unit entered service on 22 June 2017, between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. TfL exercised an option to acquire a further five units in July 2017, bringing the total number on order to 70.

A number of Class 315 units that had been operating with TfL Rail remained in use on Elizabeth line services between Liverpool Street's terminal platforms and Shenfield alongside Class 345 units while the introduction of the new fleet – including the extension to nine-car formations – was completed.

The Class 315 units, which had been built for British Rail in 1980–1981, could not be used in the line's core section. The final four were withdrawn from service on 9 December 2022.

Elizabeth Line Electrification and Train Protection

The Elizabeth line uses 25 kV, 50 Hz AC overhead lines, already in use on the Great Eastern and Great Western Main Lines.

The Heathrow branch started using the European Train Control System (ETCS) in 2020. The Automatic Warning System (AWS) and Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) are used on the Great Western and Great Eastern Main Lines, with possible later upgrades to ETCS. Communications-based train control (CBTC) is installed in the central section and the Abbey Wood branch.

Elizabeth Line Overview

Elizabeth Line Service Type: Hybrid urban-suburban rail

Elizabeth Line System: National Rail

Elizabeth Line Locale:

Greater London

Berkshire

Buckinghamshire

Essex

Elizabeth Line First Service: 24 May 2022; 13 months ago

Elizabeth Line Current Operator(s): MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Ltd

Elizabeth Line Termini West: Heathrow Terminal 4, Heathrow Terminal 5 and Reading

Elizabeth Line Termini East: Abbey Wood and Shenfield

Elizabeth Line Stops: 41

Elizabeth Line Rolling Stock: Class 345

Elizabeth Line Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Elizabeth Line Electrification: 25 kV 50 Hz AC (overhead lines)

Elizabeth Line Operating Speed:

Crossrail: 60 mph (95 km/h)

GWML, Heathrow and GEML: 90 mph (145 km/h)

Elizabeth Line Track Owner(s):

Transport for London (Old Oak Common to Abbey Wood and Stratford)

Network Rail (Pudding Mill Lane to Shenfield and Old Oak Common to Reading)

Heathrow Airport Holdings (Heathrow branch)

Elizabeth line Route Legend

Reading

Twyford

Maidenhead

River Thames

Taplow

Burnham

Slough

Heathrow T5 Langley

Heathrow T4 Iver

M25 motorway

Heathrow T2&3 Greater London boundary

West Drayton

Heathrow Rail Link Great Western Main Line

Hayes & Harlington

Southall

River Brent

Hanwell

West Ealing

Ealing Broadway

Acton Main Line

Old Oak Common Old Oak Common Depot

(under construction)

Crossrail Great Western Main Line

Royal Oak portal

Paddington London Paddington

Bond Street

Tottenham Ct Rd

Farringdon Barbican

Moorgate

Liverpool St

Whitechapel

Crossrail Great Eastern Main Line

Pudding Mill Lane

Canary Wharf Stratford

Victoria Dock portal Maryland

DocklandsCustom House Forest Gate

Connaught tunnel Manor Park

under Royal Docks

River Thames

Ilford

Woolwich Seven Kings

Abbey Wood Goodmayes

Safeguarded route

to Gravesend Chadwell Heath

Romford Control Centre and depot

Romford

Gidea Park

Harold Wood

Greater London boundary

M25 motorway

Brentwood

Shenfield

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