The first Class 345 will begin testing at Bombardier’s Derby Litchurch Lane in May.
The Aventra is the first of 66 electric multiple units (EMUs) to be built for Crossrail, and which are due to enter passenger traffic in May 2017. Crossrail Operations Director Howard Smith confirmed the plans in an exclusive interview with RAIL.
Once testing is completed at Derby, the ‘345’ will be moved to Old Dalby for testing at the Rail, Innovation and Development Centre (RIDC) test track. That will last until October, when the EMU is then moved to Bombardier’s Ilford facility, where it will be used for route proving tests on the Great Eastern Main Line. Class 345s will be introduced onto the GEML between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield first, so testing is required here.
In February 2017, it will be moved to Old Oak Common for training and further testing. Taylor Woodrow is building a depot at the West London site, with a nine-road shed and 34 sidings being constructed.
- For much more on this, read RAIL 798, published on April 13.
- For much more on the trains, read RAIL 801, published on May 25.
Andrewjgwilt1989 - 12/04/2016 08:56
The 1st Class 345 Aventra train is to be tested at Bombardier Derby facility on their own test track then it be moved to Old Dalby test track near Leicester to be tested on then in May next year the Class 345 train will enter service between Shenfield and London Liverpool Street going through the new tunnel easing some of the platforms at Liverpool Street for commuter trains to Southend Victoria and Clacton-on-Sea plus other Class 345's will be used between Reading/Heathrow Airport and London Paddington going through the new tunnel and between Whitechapel and Abbey Wood then by December 2019 the whole route will be connected and a full service will operate between Reading/Heathrow Airport-Shenfield and Reading/Heathrow Airport-Abbey Wood. Plus the Class 345's are to replace the Class 315's to be cascaded to South Wales and Bombardier will also carry on building 45 brand new Class 710's for London Overground to be used on Lea Valley metro lines including Liverpool Street-Cheshunt & Enfield Town via Edmonton Green/Seven Sisters and Liverpool Street-Chingford via Hackney Downs/Clapton, Romford-Upminster line, Gospel Oak-Barking/Barking Riverside line and Euston-Watford Junction DC line.