Alstom kicks off Derby production for Elizabeth line trains amid surging London ridership

Alstom SA has officially commenced production of ten new Class 345 Aventra electric multiple units at its historic Litchurch Lane Works in Derby to meet soaring passenger demand on the Elizabeth line. The latest manufacturing effort, backed by £220.5 million in United Kingdom Government funding, is expected to reinforce both rail capacity in London and the health of domestic supply chains, while preserving high-value manufacturing jobs across the East Midlands.

The Elizabeth line, which opened to the public in 2022, has quickly become the United Kingdom’s single busiest railway service. More than 800,000 journeys are made each weekday on the line, which has transformed the capital’s commuter ecosystem by reducing travel times, enabling step-free access, and accelerating urban regeneration. Transport for London, which operates the Elizabeth line, placed the order for additional trains to accommodate this extraordinary growth in usage, as well as to prepare for future integration with the forthcoming High Speed 2 (HS2) station at Old Oak Common.

The new trains will be built entirely within the United Kingdom. Alstom’s Derby facility remains the only site in the country that handles complete train manufacturing, from initial design to final testing. The company has highlighted the importance of the site in supporting over 1,000 skilled jobs and sustaining a network of nearly 40 British suppliers involved in the rolling stock contract.

The latest Class 345 Aventra trains will add to the existing fleet of 70 nine-car units already in service. These units are maintained by Alstom at its West London-based Old Oak Common depot, which has been operational since 2018. The ten new trains are designed to provide increased reliability, capacity, and accessibility as London’s population and transit needs continue to grow.

Why is Transport for London expanding the Elizabeth line fleet with UK-built trains?

Transport for London commissioned the new Class 345 Aventra units to increase service frequency, reduce congestion, and meet surging passenger numbers. With over 800,000 daily riders, the Elizabeth line has quickly become the backbone of London’s east-west rail connectivity. The new trains will also play a vital role in preparing the network for enhanced integration with High Speed 2, particularly the major interchange hub at Old Oak Common, which is expected to serve millions of additional journeys once complete.

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, described the £220.5 million investment as a clear demonstration of the government’s Plan for Change. She said that targeted infrastructure spending, like this Elizabeth line contract, is crucial to creating jobs, reducing journey times, and delivering modern rail access across both urban and regional markets.

How does Alstom’s Litchurch Lane Works strengthen UK rail manufacturing and job creation?

Alstom’s Litchurch Lane Works in Derby is the only facility in the United Kingdom that can fully design, engineer, build, and test trains under one roof. First opened in 1876 by the Midland Railway, the site has operated continuously through various ownerships and remains a strategic industrial asset. Rob Whyte, Managing Director for the United Kingdom and Ireland at Alstom, emphasized the factory’s importance not only for domestic transport but also for global exports and high-value engineering.

In August 2025, Alstom hosted the Greatest Gathering, the largest-ever railway festival, attracting 40,000 visitors and marking the first public opening of the site in nearly 50 years. This event reaffirmed Derby’s standing as the heart of UK rail innovation and manufacturing pride.

The new Aventra trains being built for the Elizabeth line will support more than 1,000 skilled jobs across a network of 40 British companies. According to David Shore, Managing Director of wiring system specialist Time 24, the order has helped rejuvenate a quiet domestic rolling stock market, offering critical continuity for firms reliant on stable infrastructure pipelines.

What does the latest evaluation reveal about Elizabeth line usage, journey times, and accessibility?

A new evaluation report from Transport for London underscores the Elizabeth line’s impact on mobility patterns across the capital. Since opening, an estimated 71,000 additional trips have been added to the network each weekday. In Abbey Wood, one of the line’s southeastern termini, around 16 percent of journeys on public transport are believed to have occurred solely due to the presence of the new line.

The line has also driven a measurable reduction in average journey times for disabled and mobility-limited passengers. According to Transport for London, step-free journey times have decreased by 11 percent, and all stations between Paddington and Woolwich now offer full step-free access from street to train. Other stations provide step-free connectivity from street to platform, making the Elizabeth line one of the most accessible public transit systems in the United Kingdom.

Andy Lord, Commissioner at Transport for London, commented that Derby’s train production launch is a direct response to the popularity of the service. He added that the Elizabeth line continues to shape commuting behaviour and support transport-oriented development in ways that are spreading well beyond Greater London.

How is the Elizabeth line driving housing construction and job creation around station zones?

The Elizabeth line has rapidly become a catalyst for regional economic development, particularly in housing and employment. According to Transport for London, more than 70,500 housing units are currently planned within one kilometre of an Elizabeth line station. High-density planning is concentrated in areas like Canary Wharf, Stratford, Southall, Romford, and Acton Main Line, where proximity to fast rail transit is seen as a key development enabler.

Between 2022 and 2023, more than 125,000 new jobs were recorded within one kilometre of an Elizabeth line station. The Mayor of London’s long-term Transport Strategy projects a need for 65,000 new homes and approximately 1.3 million new jobs by 2041. Officials now view expanded rail access as a direct lever to unlock both workforce housing and commercial capacity across Greater London.

Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, reiterated that strategic investment in London’s infrastructure has positive implications far beyond the city itself. He stated that the Elizabeth line is a case study in how well-planned transport projects can unlock opportunities for underserved communities while revitalizing industrial sectors like rolling stock production in regions such as the East Midlands.

What are the next steps for Alstom’s delivery of the ten new Elizabeth line trains?

Production on the ten new Class 345 Aventra trains is now underway, with phased delivery and integration expected through 2026. Once complete, the new builds will raise the total number of Aventra units servicing the Elizabeth line to 80. The full fleet is maintained at Alstom’s Old Oak Common depot in West London, which has operated since 2018 and is slated to become even more important once HS2 services begin partial operations through the interchange.

Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, described the train production launch as a milestone for Derby and the regional economy. She highlighted that Derby’s hosting of the Railway 200 festival and the continuation of advanced manufacturing contracts signals the region’s enduring leadership in the United Kingdom’s rail and infrastructure future.

Although this domestic contract is not expected to significantly alter Alstom SA’s global financial guidance, analysts believe it provides essential order stability at a time of procurement uncertainty in the rolling stock industry. The project also positions Alstom as a preferred supplier for future Transport for London upgrades and potentially for other UK city rail expansions based on the Elizabeth line’s performance template.

What are the key takeaways from Alstom’s Elizabeth line train build in Derby?

• Alstom SA has started production of ten new Class 345 Aventra electric multiple units at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works to expand capacity on the Elizabeth line
• The £220.5 million contract is backed by the United Kingdom Government and supports more than 1,000 skilled jobs across nearly 40 UK suppliers
• The Elizabeth line has become the country’s busiest railway, with over 800,000 weekday journeys since its launch in 2022
• The new UK-built trains are expected to improve frequency and accessibility, while preparing the line to integrate with the upcoming HS2 station at Old Oak Common
• The Derby facility remains the only end-to-end train manufacturing site in the UK, reinforcing the importance of domestic rolling stock infrastructure
• Transport for London data shows that the Elizabeth line has generated an estimated 71,000 additional weekday trips and reduced step-free journey times by 11 percent
• More than 70,500 new housing units and 125,000 jobs are planned or created within one kilometre of Elizabeth line stations since its opening
• Institutional sentiment around the order is positive, with analysts seeing it as a stabilizing force for the UK rail manufacturing supply chain during a quiet procurement cycle
• The ten new trains will join the existing fleet of 70 units, all maintained by Alstom at the Old Oak Common depot in West London