Alstom Aventra

The Aventra was developed by Bombardier Transportation principally as a successor to their prolific Electrostar electric multiple unit (EMU) family; the final example of which was delivered during 2018 after nearly twenty years of continuous production. The Aventra features a redesigned interior, which Bombardier has indicated to be the main visual difference between the two platforms. Structurally, the Aventra is relatively lightweight; the body of each carriage having been redeveloped from the Electrostar. While the older Electrostar family are not compliant with the Technical Standards of Interoperability (TSI) introduced in 2017, the Aventra was specifically designed for compliance with the more rigorous regulatory requirements. The primary manufacturing site for the Aventra was established at Bombardier's Derby Litchurch Lane Works facility; Simmons has stated that the Derby production line was intended to manufacture the type, not only to fulfil British orders but also those placed by overseas operators. These trains were not subsequently ordered. ==Orders==

As of May 2024, a total of 2,651 vehicles have been built for six operators: Elizabeth line The first order for the Aventra platform was a £1billion (including maintenance) contract for 65 Class 345 nine-car EMUs (with an option for 17 more) for the London Crossrail programme in February 2014, which built the Elizabeth line. The £1billion figure included a new depot at Old Oak Common and a maintenance contract. These units are operated by Elizabeth line concession holder MTR Crossrail and have replaced Class 315, Class 360 and Class 387 on Shenfield Metro, Heathrow and Reading services respectively. The first train entered service in June 2017. In July 2017, it was announced that the order would be increased to 70 trains; the contract for the additional trains was signed in March 2018. In April 2024, with the future viability of the Derby Litchurch Lane manufacturing plant in serious doubt due to a lack of orders, a further follow-on order for ten additional trains was indicated (five previously agreed plus a further five trainsets) in response to strong growth of passenger numbers on the Elizabeth Line and future expected service increases to cope with the interchange with High Speed 2 services at Old Oak Common Interchange. In June 2024, it was announced that the aforementioned ten more nine-car Class 345s had been ordered. London Overground London Overground ordered 54 four-car Class 710 trains in July 2015, with an option remaining for 15 more, similar to those being used for Crossrail. They have replaced Class 315, Class 317, Class 172 and Class 378 or the entire fleet in 2019 on Lea Valley, Gospel Oak and Watford DC lines and are operated by London Overground concession holder Arriva Rail London. These entered service in May 2019. Greater Anglia later amended the order with all to be built as five-car sets. These entered service in November 2020. On 9 January 2024, the first Class 701 unit entered revenue service after more than four years of delays. The three-car Class 730/0 sets in West Midlands Trains branding entered service on 13 November 2023. The five-car Class 730/2 sets in London Northwestern Railway branding entered service on 9 June 2025. c2c In December 2017, c2c ordered six ten-car Aventra units, which were proposed to enter service in summer 2021. These replaced the six, 4-car units leased from 2016. In 2020, the order was amended to be for 12 five-car Class 720 trains instead, mirroring the change made by Greater Anglia to their order. These entered service in September 2023. ==Alstom Aventra variants==