“It’s fantastic to think that these sleek new trains will soon be transporting millions of people across our great city and beyond”, said Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
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Production of the first vehicles is now underway at Bombardier’s Derby plant and testing will be carried out on the Old Dalby test track before delivery to London. As well as stopping us from overheating, the trains will also be doing their bit for the environment, using up to 30 percent less energy by regenerating electricity back into the power supply when the brakes are on. The new train line has seen more than 23 miles of tunnels carved out under the surface of London – and ten previous images of the tunnels show their scale.
The Crossrail train design was launched during TfL and the London Transport Museum’s 18-month “Transported by Design” programme, which includes a host of exhibitions and competitions that celebrate the role of good design on the capital’s transport network.
The first trains will enter service in May 2017 when they’ll replace the models now running between Liverpool Street and Shenfield with the rest of the fleet starting service when Crossrail opens in 2019.
“They will add vital capacity to our rail network and will help to ensure our economy continues its onward journey full-steam ahead”.
Mr Johnson said: “I am delighted that these British-built trains have been designed with customers at their heart, with on-board facilities that are fit for a truly 21st-century rail link”.
The trains will have wide interconnecting gangways and three double doors on each side of each carriage, providing high capacity and quick boarding and alighting times as well as real-time travel information on board.
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Bombardier landed the £1 billion contract to build the trains for Crossrail in February previous year. Free WiFi will be available on the trains and the platforms.
