New Elizabeth Line Trains to Boost Capacity By End of Year
Arrival of extra stock should ease pressure at Ealing and Acton stations
One of the new trains after manufacturing in Derby. Picture: TfL
June 6, 2026
Commuters using stations in Ealing and Acton are set to benefit from improved journeys on the Elizabeth line, as Transport for London (TfL) begins testing a new fleet of trains designed to increase capacity across the capital’s busiest railway.
The first of ten new trains has now left the production line in Derby and is undergoing testing before being introduced into passenger service later this year, with the upgrade aimed at meeting growing demand on the line.
Stations serving Ealing and Acton—including Acton Main Line, West Ealing and Ealing Broadway—have seen significant growth in passenger numbers since the railway opened in 2022. While TfL’s announcement does not break down station-by-station figures, it highlights that more than 850 million journeys have already been made on the Elizabeth line, making it the UK’s single busiest railway service.
The introduction of additional trains is expected to ease crowding at peak times on busy west London platforms, where commuters rely on frequent services into central London, Heathrow and beyond.
When all ten trains are in service, the Elizabeth line’s total capacity will rise to around 120,000 passengers, significantly increasing the number of people the railway can carry at any one time.
The expansion comes in response to sustained growth in demand across the network. TfL says the new trains are being funded by Government to help accommodate the line’s continued popularity and future developments, including connections to HS2 at Old Oak Common.
The new trains are being constructed by Alstom at its Derby factory, with each nine-carriage train containing extensive engineering and components from across the UK supply chain.
TfL’s rail director Trish Ashton described the rollout as “an important milestone” in increasing capacity to meet demand across the Elizabeth line network.
The first train will undergo further trials both near London and on the Elizabeth line itself before entering service later this year, with the remaining trains joining the fleet through 2026 and beyond.
For passengers, the changes may not be visible overnight—but over time, the additional trains are expected to make journeys more comfortable and reliable on a line that has quickly become a backbone of west London travel.
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