Alstom presented in Derby the first of ten new trains for London's Elizabeth line, part of a £370 million contract. This agreement not only renews the fleet but also saved the UK's largest train factory and prevented 1,300 layoffs. The line, which already moves 850 million passengers per year, will increase its capacity to 120,000 people per hour, improving mobility in the capital.
Ten trains securing British rail production 🚆
The new trains, manufactured in Derby, are state-of-the-art Aventra models. They incorporate more efficient traction systems and greater passenger capacity, with carriages designed for rapid flow during peak hours. The investment also ensures the continuity of the local supply chain, keeping component suppliers and maintenance workshops active. Without this order, the plant would have closed, leaving a gap in the national rail industry.
Miracle in Derby: a train traveling towards the labor past 🛤️
Who would have thought: in the midst of the era of automation and mobility startups, what saves a factory is an order for trains with ten-year-old technology. But hey, if the British government doesn't put in the money, the 1,300 employees end up on the street and London passengers travel by bus. At least, while the trains run, Derby's engineers can boast that their work is not as vintage as it seems.