Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 31, Alstom has begun production of ten additional trains for Transport for London’s Elizabeth line at its Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, UK. The £220.5m ($293.9m) contract covers new Class 345 Aventra electric multiple units, involving nearly 40 British companies and over 1,000 employees. Funded by the UK government, these trains aim to increase capacity on the Elizabeth line, which has seen an average of 800,000 daily journeys since opening in 2022.

The Class 345 Aventra electric multiple units are manufactured at Alstom’s Derby facility.

Derby’s Litchurch Lane Works, established in 1876, is the UK’s only facility managing the complete train manufacturing process, from design and engineering to construction and testing. The site continues Derby’s long history in train production and remains a hub for high-value manufacturing.

Rob Whyte, Alstom UK and Ireland managing director, 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.”

The new trains will help Transport for London meet rising passenger demand and prepare for future connections, including services to HS2’s Old Oak Common station. Over the past two years, TfL has spent more than £12bn with over 3,000 UK suppliers, generating over £11bn in Gross Value Added and supporting approximately 100,000 full-time jobs annually.

Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, noted: “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 and ensuring London’s transport network keeps pace with growing demand.”

The Derby facility will continue delivering these new units while maintaining Alstom’s broader UK operations. The project highlights the importance of local manufacturing and supply chains, supporting jobs across multiple sectors, from engineering and assembly to component suppliers.

Alstom has also recently unveiled ten new electric trains for Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) in Spain. These units will provide express service between central Barcelona and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, demonstrating Alstom’s expertise in producing high-capacity, energy-efficient trains for both domestic and international markets.

With these developments, Alstom reinforces its role in expanding modern rail infrastructure while contributing to economic growth and sustainable transport solutions. The new Elizabeth line trains are expected to significantly improve passenger experience and operational efficiency as London’s public transport network adapts to increasing demand.