British Rail Class 345

British Rail Class 345 Aventra
TfL Rail Class 345 at Shenfield
Class 345 interior
In service 22 June 2017[1]
Manufacturer Bombardier Transportation[2]
Built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works[2]
Family name Aventra
Replaced Class 315 & Class 360
Constructed 2015–2018
Number under construction 70 trainsets[3]
Number in service 15
Formation 9 carriages per trainset (7 from 2017-2019)[4]
Fleet numbers 345001–345070
Capacity 450 seated, 4 wheelchair, 1,500 people total[5]
Operator(s) Crossrail
Depot(s) Old Oak Common[2]
Line(s) served Elizabeth line
Specifications
Train length 205 m (673 ft)[2]
Width 2780mm
Doors Plug, 6 sets of doors per carriage
Maximum speed 145 km/h (90 mph)[5]
Weight 264.21 tonnes[5]
Acceleration up to 1 m/s²[5]
Electric system(s) 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead lines[5]
Current collection method Pantograph
Safety system(s) CBTC, ETCS, AWS, TPWS
Coupling system Dellner
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Class 345 is a Bombardier Aventra design electric multiple unit being manufactured for London's Crossrail. 70 nine-car trains are being manufactured at a cost of over £1 billion, with each train able to reach 140 km/h (90 mph) and carry 1,500 passengers.[6][3] The contract was awarded to Bombardier Transportation in February 2014 and the train entered service on 22 June 2017. Initial deliveries are of seven-car sets, which will be extended to nine car sets at a later date.

History

Background and specifications

The new depot built for class 345s at Old Oak Common

In 2008, the British government's rolling stock plan stated a requirement for around 600 carriages for Crossrail, expected to be similar in design to the Thameslink rolling stock, to meet the design improvement requirements of the 2007 'Rail Technical Strategy' (RTS), including in-cab signalling/communication with satellite and ERTMS level 3 technologies, regenerative braking, low cost of operation and high reliability, with low weight and high acceleration.[7][8]

The publicly released specifications included a passenger capacity of 1,500, with 450 seated, in a fully air-conditioned train no longer than 205 m (673 ft) with a top speed of 145 km/h (90 mph), and an energy efficiency as good as 24 kW·h per train-kilometre. Integration with platform screen doors is also expected.[5] The capital value of the contract, which included construction of a depot at Old Oak Common, was estimated at around £1bn,[9] the total value may be greater due to the winning bidder expected to undertake maintenance of the trains for three decades, the estimated lifespan of the fleet.[10]

The procurement programme was launched in December 2010. The package valued at approximately £1bn was for 60 ten-carriage trains with a capacity of about 1,500 passengers and construction of maintenance depots.[11]

Bidding process and funding

In March 2011, Crossrail announced that Alstom, Bombardier, CAF, Hitachi and Siemens had been shortlisted. The initial bidding process was expected to start in late 2011, with a contract decision in 2013.[12][13]

In August 2011, the invitation to tender was delayed by one year to 2012 and the contract decision to 2014, with the introduction of trains on the Great Eastern Main Line expected from May 2017 (previously December 2016), with a correspondingly shortened production schedule. The delay was a cost-saving measure to avoid new vehicles being unused whilst Crossrail tunnelling was completed;[14] it also postponed bidding until after a review of governmental procurement processes.[15][16] Alstom withdrew from the bidding process in August 2011, stating it lacked a suitable developed product.[16] Concerns about taxpayer value for money on PFI funded projects led to Transport for London (TfL) seeking to purchase the trains outright.[17] In December 2011 the request to raise the debt ceiling at TfL to allow the acquisition with public funds was refused by the Department for Transport.[18]

In February 2012, an invitation to negotiate was issued, which included clauses on 'responsible procurement' relating to UK supply chain sourcing and training opportunities;[9] the procurement became politicised after Bombardier failed to win the Thameslink rolling stock programme, and said it may have to close its UK assembly plant (Derby Litchurch Lane) if it did not win the Crossrail contract.[10][19]

Formal bids were expected in mid-2012, with a decision in early 2014, based on the proposed product meeting the design requirements, and on value for money. Procurement was expected to be partly public and partly privately financed.[9] In September 2012, the government announced that it would underwrite a further £240 million of the project cost under its 'UK Guarantees' infrastructure credit funding scheme, in addition to the 30 per cent of the project being government funded.[20]

Siemens withdrew from the tendering process in July 2013, citing a likelihood of insufficient production capacity in the production timeframe.[21] In December 2013, the European Investment Bank (EIB) agreed to provide loans to Transport for London for the rolling stock of up to £500M.[22] On 6 February 2014, it was announced that Canada's Bombardier had been awarded a £1bn contract to supply 66 trains,[4][23] with an option for 18 more.[4] In July 2017 an option for four more units was exercised taking the order to 70 units.[24]

In early 2018 it was announced that the fleet would be sold off and leased back to TfL in order to provide funding for the New Tube for London.[25]

Fleet details

Unit 345015 at Paddington station (May 2018)

A total of 70 units, totalling 630 carriages, are to be built.[3]

Class Operator No. Built Year Built Cars per Set Unit nos.
Class 345 Crossrail 70 2015–2018 9 345001–345070

The first train entered service on 22 June 2017 on the current TfL Rail route between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield as a seven-carriage unit,[1] since, until the platforms can be lengthened there, the nine-car sets cannot be accommodated at Liverpool Street.[26] The new units will also replace the Class 315s presently used on TfL Rail.[27] Units introduced from May 2018 between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport will be full nine-carriage trains, with those initially delivered in seven-car formation converted by the end of 2019.[28] The trains will have free Wi-Fi and 4G available, as well as being fully accessible for wheelchair users.[29] The trains will operate from 25 kV AC OHLE, but will be able to be fitted with shoegear allowing for use with 750 V DC third rail, allowing for a possible future extension of Crossrail to Gravesend.

Bombardier Aventra Class 345 train at Bombardier Transportation in Derby.
Elizabeth Line Class 345

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Clinnick, Richard (31 May 2017). "Delayed start for first Crossrail Aventra". Rail Magazine. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Crossrail rolling stock and depot contract to be awarded to Bombardier" (Press release). Department of Transport. 6 February 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "TfL to order more Elizabeth line trains". Global Rail News. 13 July 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Bombardier wins Crossrail train contract". Railway Gazette International. 6 February 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sources:
    • "Crossrail rolling stock contract invitations to negotiate issued". Railway Gazette International. 28 February 2012.
    • "Crossrail Rolling Stock (Rolling Stock Technical Fact Sheet)". Crossrail. February 2012.
  6. ↑ "Crossrail trains take shape". Crossrail. Crossrail. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  7. ↑ Sources "Rail Technical Strategy":
    • "The Rail Technical Strategy". Department for Transport. 2007. Archived from the original on 13 May 2010.
    • "Rail Technical Strategy". Department for Transport. July 2007. 1.2, pp.5–6; Table 4.2, p.46; "New-generation multiple units", p.56. Archived from the original on 6 November 2008.
  8. ↑ "Department for Transport – Rolling stock plan". Department for Transport. 30 January 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2008.
  9. 1 2 3 Sources:
    • Justine Greening (28 February 2012). "Crossrail train procurement". Department for Transport.
    • "Crossrail issues rolling stock and depot tender". Crossrail. 28 February 2012.
  10. 1 2 Jim Pickard; Mark Odell (27 February 2012). "Crossrail tender favours UK". The Financial Times.
  11. ↑ "Crossrail seeks privately-financed rolling stock". Railway Gazette International. 1 December 2010.
  12. ↑ "Crossrail confirms shortlist for rolling stock and depot facilities" (Press release). Crossrail. 30 March 2011.
  13. ↑ "Crossrail issues rolling stock shortlist". Railway Gazette International. 30 March 2011.
  14. ↑ "Update on Crossrail rolling stock and depot procurement" (Press release). Crossrail. 30 August 2011.
  15. ↑ Sources:
    • "Crossrail postpones rolling stock tenders because of government review". New Civil Engineer. 30 August 2011.
    • "Could Crossrail Contract Delay Save UK Jobs?". BskyB. 30 August 2011.
  16. 1 2 Robert Wright; Helen Warrell (30 August 2011). "Alstom quits delayed Crossrail bids". Financial Times.
  17. ↑ Sources:
    • Dan Milmo (9 October 2011). "Transport for London warns against PFI deal for Crossrail". The Observer.
    • Mark Leftly (4 December 2011). "It could be back to the drawing board for Crossrail funding". The Independent.
  18. ↑ Dan Milmo (11 December 2011). "Minister blocks Boris Johnson's plan to fund £1bn Crossrail project". The Guardian.
  19. ↑ Sources:
    • Mark Odell (12 February 2012). "Bombardier warns on Derby plant's future". The Financial Times. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. (Registration required (help)). (Registration not required for Archived version.)
    • Mark Leftly (27 February 2012). "Britain must accept Bombardier's contract miss, says German rival". The Independent.
    • Dan Milmo (26 February 2012). "Why Bombardier's bid for Crossrail means so much to Litchurch Lane". The Observer.
    • François Shalom (29 February 2012). "Bombardier on $1.6B shortlist". Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012.
  20. ↑ Sources:
    • "UK to underwrite funding for Crossrail trains-minister". Reuters. 25 September 2012.
    • "Crossrail stock procurement to benefit from UK Guarantees scheme". www.out-law.com. 26 September 2012.
  21. ↑ "Crossrail rolling stock procurement" (Press release). Siemens. 5 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "EIB provides £500m loan for Crossrail trains". Railway Gazette International. 13 December 2013.
  23. ↑ "Bombardier wins £1bn Crossrail deal". BBC News. 6 February 2014.
  24. ↑ Smith, Rebecca (13 July 2017). "Crossrail goes bigger: TfL doubles some Elizabeth Line services". cityam.com.
  25. ↑ "TfL to sell and lease back Elizabeth line fleet to finance new Deep Tube trains". Global Rail News. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  26. ↑ http://www.essexlive.news/start-of-crossrail-trains-from-shenfield-delayed-until-at-least-june/story-30362701-detail/story.html
  27. ↑ Clinnick, Richard (22 December 2015). "A major achievement for Liverpool Street". Rail. Bauer Media (789): 81–85. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  28. ↑ Clinnick, Richard (22 December 2015). "Crossrail reveals design of "future-packed" Aventras". Rail. Bauer Media (789): 28–29.
  29. ↑ "Crossrail: New trains".
  • "Rolling Stock Plan : Crossrail". www.dft.gov.uk. Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011.
  • Trains Information from crossrail.co.uk
  • "New Crossrail Trains". YouTube. Transport for London. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.

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