British Rail Class 345
| Industry | Rail transport manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Derby , United Kingdom |
| Products | Electric multiple unit passenger trains (including British Rail Class 345 Aventra) |
The British Rail Class 345 Aventra represents a series of electric multiple unit passenger trains manufactured by Bombardier Transportation specifically for London's Elizabeth line. As part of Bombardier's Aventra range, the contract was secured under the Crossrail initiative in February 2014. A total of seventy nine-car sets, each capable of accommodating 1,500 passengers, were constructed in Derby between 2015 and 2019, with the overall investment surpassing £1 billion. The inaugural train commenced operations on 22 June 2017.
In June 2024, an order was placed for an additional ten trains to be delivered by 2026, increasing the fleet size to 80 units.
Background and specifications
The British government’s rolling stock strategy in 2008 outlined a requirement for approximately 610 carriages dedicated to Crossrail, designed to comply with the 2007 "Rail Technical Strategy" (RTS). Essential specifications included in-cab signalling integrating satellite technology alongside European Train Control System level 3, regenerative braking systems, minimal operating costs, high dependability, reduced weight, and swift acceleration.
Publicly available criteria mandated trains with a capacity of 1,500 passengers (including 450 seats), full air conditioning, a maximum length of , a top speed of , and an energy consumption target of 24kWh per train-kilometer. Testing revealed the Class 345 surpassed this benchmark by using only 14kWh per train-kilometer. These trains operate in conjunction with platform screen doors within the central tunnel segment.
The contract’s capital expenditure, encompassing construction of the Old Oak Common depot, was projected at roughly £1 billion. The total financial commitment is greater when factoring in the winning bidder’s obligation to maintain the fleet over an anticipated service life of three decades.
Bidding process and funding
In March 2011, Crossrail shortlisted five companies—Alstom, Bombardier, CAF, Hitachi, and Siemens—to compete for rolling stock and depot contracts. Tender submissions were expected to begin late that year, with a contract award planned for 2013.
However, in August 2011 the invitation to tender was postponed by one year until 2012, delaying contract finalisation to 2014 and pushing back train deployment on the Great Eastern Main Line from December 2016 to May 2017. This postponement aimed to reduce expenses by preventing surplus vehicles during tunnel completion and allowed time for a government review of procurement processes. Alstom exited the competition in August 2011, citing absence of an appropriate product. Due to concerns about value for money on PFI-funded projects, Transport for London (TfL) sought to purchase trains outright; nevertheless, the Department for Transport denied TfL’s request to increase its borrowing limit in December 2011.
By February 2012, the invitation to negotiate incorporated 'responsible procurement' requirements focusing on sourcing from UK supply chains and workforce training. The process became politically charged after Bombardier failed to win the Thameslink contract—raising fears over closure of its Derby assembly facility, then the sole active rolling stock manufacturer in the UK—if it also lost Crossrail. Formal bids were anticipated by mid-2012 with decisions slated for early 2014 based on design compliance and cost-effectiveness. The procurement strategy intended a combination of public and private financing.
In September 2012, government approval was granted to guarantee an extra £240 million through its 'UK Guarantees' infrastructure credit scheme alongside existing government funding covering approximately 30%. Siemens withdrew from tendering in July 2013 due to limited production capacity within the required timeframe.
Contract award and construction
In December 2013, the European Investment Bank (EIB) committed to lending TfL up to £500 million specifically for rolling stock acquisition. Subsequently, on 6 February 2014, Bombardier Transportation secured a contract valued at £1 billion to deliver 65 trains, with an option to procure an additional 18 units. Production took place at Bombardier's Derby Litchurch Lane Works, and testing commenced in May 2016. The inaugural completed train was officially presented on 29 July 2016 by representatives from Bombardier and TfL.
By March 2018, TfL exercised the option to add five more trains, bringing the total order to 70 units.
Second batch
Following the Elizabeth line’s inauguration, TfL observed a marked increase in passenger numbers.[1] Anticipating further demand linked to the forthcoming Old Oak Common station and the arrival of High Speed 2 in the 2030s, TfL sought additional funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) to expand its fleet.[2] After Alstom acquired Bombardier in January 2021,[3] both Alstom and Unite the Union advocated for extra train orders to safeguard the Derby Litchurch Lane facility from potential closure.[4] In June 2024, a contract worth £370 million was agreed upon for ten more nine-car Aventra trains, which included maintenance services extending through 2046, with £220.5 million of funding provided by the DfT.[5]
Sale and leaseback
In January 2018, TfL proposed a sale-and-leaseback arrangement for the Elizabeth line fleet as a financing mechanism for the London Underground’s 2024 Stock.[6] This transaction, valued at £1 billion over a twenty-year period, was finalized in March 2019 with NatWest, SMBC Leasing, and Equitix acting as partners.[7]
Operations
The inaugural Class 345 train commenced service on 22 June 2017 on the eastern TfL Rail corridor between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield, initially operating as seven-car formations. Full nine-car configurations were introduced following platform extensions at Liverpool Street in 2021.
Service on the western TfL Rail route began in May 2018 between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington, later extending to Reading by December 2019. Trains on this western section also started as seven-car sets before being lengthened to nine cars.
The Class 345 units replaced British Rail Class 315 trains on TfL Rail’s Shenfield line, largely supplanted British Rail Class 387 units operated by Great Western Railway on Reading services, and completely took over from former Heathrow Connect British Rail Class 360 stock on Heathrow routes. These trains provide complimentary Wi-Fi, 4G connectivity, and full accessibility accommodations for wheelchair users.
In May 2020, the Office of Rail and Road granted approval for Class 345 operations at Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5 stations; services began on 30 July that year. On 24 May 2022, Class 345 trains started running through the central core under the new branding of the Elizabeth line, transitioning from their previous designation as TfL Rail.
Fleet details
A total of 70 units have been constructed, comprising an aggregate of 630 carriages. Consistent with many contemporary commuter trains, these feature open gangways connecting carriages and do not include onboard toilet facilities. Seating arrangements combine longitudinal and transverse layouts exclusively in standard class.
| Class | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. | Formation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 345 | GTS Rail Operations | 70 | 2015–2019 | 9 | 345001–345070 | DMS-PMS-MS1-MS3-TSW-MS3-MS2-PMS-DMS |
| 10[8] | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Named units
A number of Class 345 trains have been designated with names to pay tribute to distinguished individuals and meaningful causes.
| Unit number | Name | Details | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named trains | ||||||
| 345004 | Andy Byford | Dedicated to Andy Byford, the former Commissioner of Transport for London. | ||||
| 345024 | Heidi Alexander | Honours Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor of London and member of the Crossrail board. | ||||
| 345062 | Jorge Ortega | Commemorates Jorge Ortega, an MTR Elizabeth line employee who tragically lost his life following an assault at Ilford station. | ||||
| Special liveries | ||||||
| 345055 | Every Story Matters | Features a Pride-themed livery celebrating the 2023 Pride in London festival. | ||||
See also
- Class 700, a Siemens Mobility fleet acquired for the Thameslink Programme, sharing similar specifications.
- Class 710, a comparable series of Aventra trains operating on the London Overground network.
External links
- Crossrail Rolling Stock Plan, Department for Transport
- Layout Drawing: Unit Diagram (Full Length Unit, Class 345), Bombardier Transportation, 15 February 2018