Alstom signs a €430 million contract for Elizabeth line in London

On June 14, 2024, Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, signed a contract worth approximately €430 million (£370 million) to supply 10 new nine-car Aventra trains for Transport for London’s Elizabeth line. The contract also includes maintenance services for these trains until 2046. This addition aims to address the growing passenger demand on the Elizabeth line, which opened in 2022 and has exceeded initial usage predictions.

The Elizabeth line currently operates with a fleet of 70 Alstom-built Aventra Class 345 trains. However, projections indicate that this fleet will not be sufficient to meet future demand later in this decade and throughout the 2030s. The new Aventra electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger trains will help alleviate this issue, ensuring the line can continue to operate efficiently as passenger numbers increase.

All new trains will be manufactured at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works, the UK’s sole facility that designs, engineers, builds, and tests trains for both domestic and export markets. Nick Crossfield, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom, expressed his satisfaction with the confirmed workload for Derby Litchurch Lane and the extended supply chain across the UK, emphasizing the significance of the UK as one of Alstom’s most important global markets.

The funding for these new trains includes £220.5 million from the Department for Transport, with Transport for London also committing to the provision of maintenance services for the units until 2046. This contract ensures that the Elizabeth line will continue to meet the high passenger demand with modern, well-maintained trains for the foreseeable future.