Progress with 345 071 - 345 080

[Peter Mugridge]

From my posting in the Greatest gathering thread:

Roof components for one carriage on 345 071; there's several half complete bodyshells by the fence at the SW corner of the site as well, which will be photographable to anyone who wants to walk that far down the road.

...so it's probably time for us to keep a close eye on these ten units?

A question about the bodyshells outdoors near the fence at the SW corner of the factory site; do they normally park half complete bodyshells there or were they moved outside for the duration of the event owing to the erecting shop being full of stalls and visiting exhibits?

 

[tfw756rider]

Nice, I honestly didn't notice so thanks for sharing these photos. Did you find out from someone that the roof components for one carriage on 345071 are indeed for 345071, and that the 71st-80th 345s will be numbered 345071-345080?

I do find it amusing that (345071) will have had, "during" its build, "My Lords" and "Hellfire" T-shirts sitting on equipment still attached to part of it

 

[800001]

From my posting in the Greatest gathering thread:



...so it's probably time for us to keep a close eye on these ten units?

A question about the bodyshells outdoors near the fence at the SW corner of the factory site; do they normally park half complete bodyshells there or were they moved outside for the duration of the event owing to the erecting shop being full of stalls and visiting exhibits?

The 'bodyshells' outside alongside the main road have been there for many months, possibly since the original 345 built. I would not read too much into those being there.

I can remember when 710s were all
Complete in certain I saw a single 710 carriage or parts of one dumped in the same area.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Nice, I honestly didn't notice so thanks for sharing these photos. Did you find out from someone that the roof components for one carriage on 345071 are indeed for 345071, and that the 71st-80th 345s will be numbered 345071-345080?

I do find it amusing that (345071) will have had, "during" its build, "My Lords" and "Hellfire" T-shirts sitting on equipment still attached to part of it

Yes, I asked a steward who was a member of the Alstom staff outside that shed; this person immediately pointed me to another steward a couple of feet away and he confirmed yes that is the roof for part of 345 071.

We don't have actual definite confirmation that the number sequence will follow on sequentially, though when we did discuss this on this forum at the time the order was placed last year the conclusion was that they would be as they were to the exact same specification. They are certainly listed as 345 071 to 345 080 in the Combined Volume, although of course their guess is as good as ours...

There were reports a few months ago that work had started on the construction of the additional units so i would hope there's more than a single carriage roof extant by now?

 

[tfw756rider]

Yes, I asked a steward who was a member of the Alstom staff outside that shed; this person immediately pointed me to another steward a couple of feet away and he confirmed yes that is the roof for part of 345 071.

We don't have actual definite confirmation that the number sequence will follow on sequentially, though when we did discuss this on this forum at the time the order was placed last year the conclusion was that they would be as they were to the exact same specification. They are certainly listed as 345 071 to 345 080 in the Combined Volume, although of course their guess is as good as ours...

Many thanks

There were reports a few months ago that work had started on the construction of the additional units so i would hope there's more than a single carriage roof extant by now?

Perhaps "work starting on construction" included some preparatory work before the start of literal construction? I'm guessing production/construction will speed up with The Greatest Gathering out of the way.

 

[800001]

When are these 345 needed? For when Old Oak opens?
Or as soon as possible to run more services now on existing Elizabeth line?

I seem to recall these extra 10 units were ordered when previous government stated that HS2 would terminate at Old Oak?

 

[NSEWonderer]

Looks like progress is going well on 345071.

 

[Purple Train]

View attachment 191390View attachment 191391
View attachment 191392
Looks like progress is going well on 345071.

It's nice to have confirmation that it definitely will be 345071 onwards, thanks to the piece of paper stuck to the bodyshell in the second picture. Unless my eyes deceive me?

 

[NSEWonderer]

Nope your eyes do not decieve you

It's nice to have confirmation that it definitely will be 345071 onwards, thanks to the piece of paper stuck to the bodyshell in the second picture. Unless my eyes deceive me

 

[boiledbeans2]

I hope they have door open buttons on the interior side of the passenger doors!

The existing trains only have interior door open buttons on each side of the door, i.e., 2 buttons in total. However, they are frequently blocked by standing passengers on either side of the door.

The newer Class 710s have solved this problem by adding button on the interior side of the doors. So they have 3 interior door open buttons in total.

 

[800001]

I hope they have door open buttons on the interior side of the passenger doors!

The existing trains only have interior door open buttons on each side of the door, i.e., 2 buttons in total. However, they are frequently blocked by standing passengers on either side of the door.

The newer Class 710s have solved this problem by adding button on the interior side of the doors. So they have 3 interior door open buttons in total.

I can imagine they will keep things exactly the same on the new builds, to ensure consistency for customers.

 

[Kite159]

I can imagine they will keep things exactly the same on the new builds, to ensure consistency for customers.

Other than maybe using USB sockets fitted from new, in a similar style to what's been retrofitted to the existing units.

 

[tfw756rider]

View attachment 191390View attachment 191391
View attachment 191392
Looks like progress is going well on 345071.

Thanks for sharing! Where are these photos from though?

 

[NSEWonderer]

Thanks for sharing! Where are these photos from though?

First look inside the Derby factory building the Elizabeth line’s new trains

On 11th September, the Elizabeth line carried over 1 million passenger journeys in a single day, and on that same day, up in Derby, workers were busy building more Elizabeth line trains to carry even more passengers.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

 

[tfw756rider]

First look inside the Derby factory building the Elizabeth line’s new trains

On 11th September, the Elizabeth line carried over 1 million passenger journeys in a single day, and on that same day, up in Derby, workers were busy building more Elizabeth line trains to carry even more passengers.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

Ah thanks

 

[NSEWonderer]

Few more views from Jago Hazzard

 

[Purple Train]

I hope they have door open buttons on the interior side of the passenger doors!

The existing trains only have interior door open buttons on each side of the door, i.e., 2 buttons in total. However, they are frequently blocked by standing passengers on either side of the door.

The newer Class 710s have solved this problem by adding button on the interior side of the doors. So they have 3 interior door open buttons in total.

I doubt it, as in my experience the only time it's ever a problem is when the passenger in question is actually leaning on the button, which stops all buttons for that door working and therefore wouldn't be solved by adding an extra button, given it makes no difference to our ability to talk to strangers!

 

[1D54]

Any date there or thereabouts for the first entry into service for these new 345s?

 

[Horizon22]

I can imagine they will keep things exactly the same on the new builds, to ensure consistency for customers.

Yes I don’t think there’s going to be any discernible difference to the new 10 compared with the previous 70 with the exception of USB mods as standard.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2025 ==

Any date there or thereabouts for the first entry into service for these new 345s?

Not yet. This thread will probably be fairly quiet for a year or so.

 

[ainsworth74]

Unlocked for @Peter Mugridge to give us an update.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Thank you @ainsworth74

Last week there was fairly heavy coverage in the railway media of a visit to Derby by a number of railway journalists from various organisations to see the progress with these units.

From the published reports, it would appear that 345 071 is now complete, although it is not clear if it fully fitted out inside or not, and that construction of 345 072 is well advanced.

The reports suggested that these units will start entering service towards the end of this calendar year, but prior to any uplift of services I got the impression from reading the various reports that they will first provide fleet cover while overhauls start on the existing fleet.

Doing a Google search for "additional class 345" will provide links to many of these reports.

 

[Benjwri]

The reports suggested that these units will start entering service towards the end of this calendar year, but prior to any uplift of services I got the impression from reading the various reports that they will first provide fleet cover while overhauls start on the existing fleet.

Further supported by the commissioner’s report for the board meeting next Tuesday (p12):

To support this expanding timetable and prepare for future growth, production continues on the 10 new Elizabeth line trains currently being manufactured. The trains will be delivered this year and in 2027, with testing of the first train expected to begin on the network this summer. The introduction of the new trains will strengthen operational resilience and enable further service improvements, including serving Old Oak Common station when it opens for HS2 services.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Further supported by the commissioner’s report for the board meeting next Tuesday (p12):

Thank you... so... the first unit, presumably 345 071, is being delivered at some point between 1st June and 31st August... not all that far off, then.

 

[Horizon22]

There’s no timetable uplift that requires additional trains until May 2027. So in the interim they will provide additional resilience and cover for overhauls.

 

[Covshire1]

There is a video of an influencer driving 345071 round the Litchfield Lane test track on 'socials' so it must be pretty close to delivery...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

There is a video of an influencer driving 345071 round the Litchfield Lane test track on 'socials' so it must be pretty close to delivery...

That would tie in with my estimate in #23.

I wonder how long it would take for it to do the fault free running after delivery and then slip into service?

 

[bnc2018]

Are any depot/stabling modifications required to accommodate the new trains? Or was everything originally designed assuming they would arrive at some point?

 

[Snow1964]

Are any depot/stabling modifications required to accommodate the new trains? Or was everything originally designed assuming they would arrive at some point?

I think it was said longer term need 2 or 3 more stabling sidings, not for day to day, but during disruption might end up with too many trains in one area, so eases it operationally.

Once Old Oak Common station opens, the 3 current reversing sidings at Westbourne Park can be used for stabling, ,

 

[800001]

There is a video of an influencer driving 345071 round the Litchfield Lane test track on 'socials' so it must be pretty close to delivery...

Taken from Today Railways Twitter/X

https://x.com/todaysrailways/status/2062791277070979474?s=46&t=JLp3J2Up_Gl_m9cQz-au6w

The first of the next batch of 10 @TfL Elizabeth Line trains (345071) is now complete & on test at @AlstomUK Derby, with work well underway on 072. 071 is due to be delivered to Old Oak on 15/06, due to be hauled by a ROG 93. Fault free running will then be undertaken on the WCML

 

[Benjwri]

Once Old Oak Common station opens, the 3 current reversing sidings at Westbourne Park can be used for stabling, ,

This isn’t true, there is no access or walking routes, and the sidings are obviously surrounded by two running lines which would be very intensively used. Not all trains are planned to run to OOC anyways, currently the plan is 18tph, although the full 24tph could be possible in the longer term, and so Westbourne Park will still be used for reversing, just not as intensively.