Could additional Elizabeth line train order save Litchurch Lane?
meeting between Transport Secretary Mark Harper and the chief executive officer of Alstom Group, Henri Poupart-lafarge, could see an order placed for an additional 10 Class 345 Aventra trains for the Elizabeth line, which would save the under-threat train building facility at Derby Litchurh Lane from closure. The company announced at the end of last year that it was being forced to look at significantly scaling back its workforce at Litchurch Lane due to a lack of new train orders and no confirmed work beyond the first quarter of 2024 ( Railways Illustrated issue 252). In recent years, Alstom has been completing various train building contracts, including the Class 701 electric multiple units for South Western Railway, Class 720 EMUS for Greater Anglia and c2c, and the Class 730 EMU fleet for West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway.
It is set to work in conjunction with Hitachi on the construction of the new train fleet for HS2, but this contract is not expected to begin until 2026. However, this leaves a gap in production at the Derby plant for two years, and should the Government commit to the purchase of an additional 10 Class 345 Aventra trains for the Elizabeth line, this would be sufficient to allow Alstom to keep Litchurch Lane open.
However, the company has stressed that time is rapidly running out and a decision must soon be taken to protect the future of the factory, which is a significant employer to people in and around Derby, as well as those in the wider supply chain. The meeting between Mr Harper and Mr Poupart-lafarge on April 16 was described as ‘positive,’ and the train builder has now entered into detailed discussions about the possible Class 345 order with the Government and Transport for London. It is hoped that an announcement confirming an order will be made before the end of May. Alstom built the 70 nine-coach Class 345s now in use on the Elizabeth line between 2015 and 2019 for Transport for London at its Derby factory, with the trains also part of the Aventra design. The Elizabeth line has proved to be massively successful since the new central section was opened between London Paddington and Abbey Wood on May 24, 2022. Now operating services between Shenfield and Abbey Wood through to Reading and Heathrow Airport, passenger demand has continued to grow, and the additional trains will help to address future capacity concerns on the popular route.
An Alstom spokesperson said: “We are now in a period of intense discussions with the Government and Transport for London about a potential train order for the Elizabeth line given the levels of passenger demand. This could help secure the future of the Litchurch Lane site. The parties have agreed to conclude discussions as soon as possible and no later than the end of May. We will be making no further comment at this time.”
Additionally, Hitachi has highlighted that it too is facing a gap in production when it has completed its current orders, which consist of Class 805 bi-mode and 807 electric multiple unit fleets for Avanti West Coast and Class 810 bi-mode trains for East Midlands Railway, all currently being built at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham. The company has said its workload is set to reduce from October if new orders are not received in the meantime.
A number of train operating companies are seeking to introduce new fleets to replace ageing diesel multiple unit designs, but no announcements or firm orders have yet been placed. The only recent confirmed order has been for 10 new Caf-built tri-mode trains for East Coast Main Line operator LNER.