Extending Elizabeth Line trains to 11 coaches and/or 30tph

[absolutelymilk]

Loadings on the Elizabeth Line seem to have been higher than expected. It was built with the capability to take 11 coach trains (up from 9 currently) and up to 30 trains per hour (up from 24 currently). Has there been any information on what might trigger these increases in capacity or which would come first? What do you all think would be better?

 

[JonathanH]

Loadings on the Elizabeth Line seem to have been higher than expected. It was built with the capability to take 11 coach trains (up from 9 currently) and up to 30 trains per hour (up from 24 currently).

Loadings haven't been that high. It might help if passengers spread along the trains a bit better. A 9-car 345 is built to accommodate 1500 passengers at crush load.

Has there been any information on what might trigger these increases in capacity or which would come first? What do you all think would be better?

It is discussed here together with the issues - 30tph first before train lengthening https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...rmed-for-november.236191/page-10#post-5878541

 

[absolutelymilk]

Loadings haven't been that high. It might help if passengers spread along the trains a bit better. A 9-car 345 is built to accommodate 1500 passengers at crush load.

Sure, I meant if passenger demand kept increasing (particularly after May when the full route opens, and the new timetable gets rid of the wait at Paddington)

It is discussed here together with the issues - 30tph first before train lengthening https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...rmed-for-november.236191/page-10#post-5878541

Thanks, hadn't seen that

 

[popeter45]

Extending to 11 cars will be an issue for the shenfield branch as many of the stations already have the last 2 carriages hanging out the back as they can't extend the platforms easily, imagine having nearly half the doors unusable at some stations like Maryland

 

[PGAT]

Extending to 11 cars will be an issue for the shenfield branch as many of the stations already have the last 2 carriages hanging out the back as they can't extend the platforms easily, imagine having nearly half the doors unusable at some stations like Maryland

That’s really not an issue, SDO exists and most passengers know which carriage to be in.

Also slightly off topic, but won’t an 11 car 345 be the longest passenger train in regular service? (250m, equivalent to the length of 12.5 cars of an electrostar)

 

[AJDesiro]

That’s really not an issue, SDO exists and most passengers know which carriage to be in.

Also slightly off topic, but won’t an 11 car 345 be the longest passenger train in regular service? (250m, equivalent to the length of 12.5 cars of an electrostar)

No, that distinction would still go to the class 374s, at 390m.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No, that distinction would still go to the class 374s, at 390m.

Or for UK domestic the Pendolino at 265m.

 

[PGAT]

No, that distinction would still go to the class 374s, at 390m.

Alright thanks