VIDEO: London's new Crossrail train revealed

Transport for London and Crossrail today (November 20) unveiled the design for the new Class 345 Aventras.

The trains will be used on the £14.9 billion railway that will link Shenfield and Reading. They will be built by Bombardier at Derby Litchurch Lane.

Each train will provide space for 1,500 passengers in nine fully inter-connected, walk-through carriages. At over 200 metres in length, they are more than one and a half times longer than the longest Tube train.

The Aventras will regenerate electricity back into the power supply when braking to use up to 30% less energy, and deliver faster journey times than the old trains they will replace between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.

Large, clear areas around the doors will allow quicker and easier boarding and alighting. A mixture of metro-style and bay seating will be available through the train, providing choice and comfort for customers.

The trains will be driver-operated with on-train customer information systems delivering real-time travel information, allowing customers to plan their onward journeys while onboard. Free WiFi will be available on the trains and the platforms. Passengers will also have access to 4G.

The interior design and colour palette has been carefully selected to provide an accessible and welcoming environment. The design includes darker floors and natural finish materials that will wear in (and not wear out), ensuring they retain their high-quality feel for years to come. The light-coloured ceilings will also maximise the feeling of height and openness inside the new trains. The material and colour choices also align with Crossrail stations for a consistent customer experience.

There will be four dedicated wheelchair spaces on each train, and a number of multi-use spaces where seating can be tipped up to accommodate prams or luggage.

“It’s fantastic to think that these sleek new trains will soon be transporting millions of people across our great city and beyond,” said London Mayor Boris Johnson.

“They’re feature packed, eye-catching machines that showcase the best of British design and engineering. They’ll add vital capacity to our rail network and will help to ensure our economy continues its onward journey full-steam ahead.”

The Class 345s will enter traffic initially between Liverpool Street and Shenfield from May 2017, using seven-carriage trains. TfL said subsequent trains will be the full-length nine-carriage version, to be first introduced between Heathrow and Paddington from May 2018. All the trains will be converted to nine carriages by the end of 2019.

• For much more on this, read RAIL 789, published on December 9.