THE fleet of Bombardier class 345 Aventra EMUs for London’s east-west Crossrail link carried their first passengers on June 22, when the trains entered commercial service with TfL Rail between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield.

IRJ at Railtex 2017: Speaking at the Railtex exhibition in Birmingham, Britain, MTR's Mr Jeremy Long revealed that MTR, the Crossrail operator, is talking to Transport for London (TfL) about operating a more intensive service than originally planned when Crossrail is fully operational as the Elizabeth Line in December 2019.

British operators are having to radically rethink their approach to station design and management to tackle capacity challenges and respond to the changing needs and expectations of passengers. Interserve transport director Kevin Murgatroyd considers what lessons could be drawn from their approach for others contemplating station upgrade plans.

With construction 75% complete, preparations are now well in hand for the launch of operations on London’s Crossrail east-west link. Crossrail operations director Howard Smith updates Keith Barrow on progress with this huge project.

THE first class 345 Aventra commuter EMU for London’s east-west Crossrail link was unveiled to the press by Bombardier and Transport for London (TfL) at Bombardier’s Derby plant on July 29.

BRITAIN's secretary of state for Transport Mr Patrick McLoughlin inaugurated a new £12m rolling stock testing and commissioning facility at Bombardier's Derby plant on May 13.

CROSSRAIL has awarded Linsinger, Austria, a contract worth around £12m to supply an MG31 rail milling train for the Elizabeth Line east-west link across central London.

BRITAIN's Rolling Stock Strategy Steering Group, which combines rolling stock leasing companies and the Rail Delivery Group, says the national train fleet could double in size by 2045 to meet increasing passenger demand.

WITH Hong Kong's public transport operator MTR preparing to open the latest additions to its metro network, the 2.6km Kwun Tong extension and the 7km South Island Line, 2016 is set to be another big year for the company.