‘345’ deliveries

Bombardier releases the last of the 70-strong order for Crossrail trains, as more of the EMUs enter traffic in London.

The final Class 345 has been released from assembly at Derby Litchurch Lane.

Bombardier has built 70 of the nine-car electric multiple units for the Crossrail project. TfL Rail 345070 was released at the end of November, three years after the first set was unveiled ( RAIL 808).

The trains are late into service, having been due to operate on London Liverpool Street-Shenfield from May 2017 (they began the following month), and Paddington-Heathrow Airport from May 2018 (they have yet to reach Heathrow, but are running to/from Hayes & Harlington).

Delays to the Crossrail project means many of the trains are still in warm store at Old Oak Common, while eight are at Harry Needle Railroad Company’s Worksop site, which is used by Bombardier to store brand new trains.

The last-built ‘345’ joins classmate 345018 at the Old Dalby test track, replacing penultimate-built 345069 which has moved to Old Oak Common.

Meanwhile, TfL Rail continues to put more seven-car ‘345s’ into traffic on the Shenfield route, with the removed trailer vehicles moved to Worksop or kept at Old Oak Common.

The latest in traffic are 345051/052, which have joined 345003/005-017/027030/034/035/037/039/040/042/ 044/047/049/055/059 in revenueearning traffic (not all have moved to the Great Eastern yet). Some are still running in nine-car formations to and from Paddington (345028/030/034/035/037/057).

The other Class 345s delivered to Old Oak Common are 345004/ 019-021/024/025/031-033/036/ 038/041/050/053/054/056/057/ 062-069.

Stored at Worksop are 345023/ 026/045/046/048/058/060/061, while 345001/002 remain at Derby.