Derby-built Elizabeth line trains achieve passenger landmark

Over half a million passenger journeys have been made on trains manufactured by Alstom’s Derby factory for London’s Elizabeth line.

According to reports published by Transport for London (TfL) and Arup, more than 500 million passenger journeys have been made on the Elizabeth line in its first two and a half years, making it the single busiest railway service in the UK.

The reports capture key outcomes, benefits and insights about the railway to get an early picture of its performance.

Combined, they cover the impacts of the railway through to October 2023, more than a year after the railway officially launched in May 2022.

More than 90 per cent of customers surveyed as part of the evaluation study interim findings report say that the Elizabeth line has had a positive impact in their area, with many welcoming the increased transport connectivity to London suburbs and improved access to Heathrow Airport.

A 70-strong fleet of Alstom-built Aventra Class 345 trains currently runs on the Elizabeth line.

To meet future demand, in June last year, the firm signed a £370 million contract with TfL for 10 new nine-car Aventra trains to operate on the line.

The new trains, like their predecessors, will be built at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane factory.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The Elizabeth line has been a game-changer for the city, transforming travel in London and unlocking investment through the creation of new jobs and homes.

“With its growing popularity, the Elizabeth line is proving itself to be essential to London and the UK’s transport network and helping to build a better, more prosperous London for everyone.

“The evidence from the success of the Elizabeth line is clear – when you invest in high-quality transport infrastructure it can provide huge benefits for increased jobs, growth and the new housing we need in London and across the country.”

On its busiest days, there are now more than 800,000 journeys made on the railway.

The Elizabeth line recently delivered its busiest and most successful period (13 October to 9 November) since opening, with over 19 million journeys and a Public Performance Measure (PPM) of 94%.