TRANSPORT for London launched the first of the new Class 345 Crossrail EMUs into service on June 22, running between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield.
Set No. 345005 worked what is normally a driver training run for the launch – the 10.35 to Shenfield as a passenger train – giving east London passengers their first experience of the air-conditioned train that will replace services provided by the ageing Class 315 fleet.
The launch was about a month later than planned, following extensive testing.
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No. 345005 has been built by Bombardier and is part of the Aventra family.
When Crossrail – or to give it the correct name of the Elizabeth Line – opens through London in December 2018, the sets will be nine-cars long, but initially on Liverpool Street to Shenfield they will run with seven cars because of platform lengths.
Over the next few months TfL Rail will increase the number of sets in service to 11 by September, which will substantially increase passenger capacity on the route.
Read more in the July 2017 issue of The RM – on sale now!
