THIS is the first look of how Crossrail trains might look when the major east-west London service hits the rails.

Sleek and shiny the trains have been given a radical make-over from the square-fronted engines promoted over the many years of the project’s life.

A fleet of 60 trains will run it was revealed at last week’s launch of the procurement process

With depot facilities needed the capital cost is in around �1bn.

Each train of around 200 metres in length will carry up to 1,500 passengers.

Thirty-seven stations along the route are to be built including one at Custom House,

The high frequency metro system will boast up to 24 trains per hour running underground between Paddington and Whitechapel during the peak.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “The importance of this project to London and the UK cannot be overstated. With the invitation now being made to companies to build our brand new trains and the Government throwing its full weight behind the project, all signals are showing green for Crossrail.”

It is envisaged that new Crossrail rolling stock and depot facilities will be privately financed with the operation let as a concession by TfL London Rail.

Crossrail will run 118 km from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, through new twin-bore 21 km tunnels under central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. It will bring an additional 1.5 million people within 45 minutes commuting distance of London’s key business districts.

Once open it will increase London’s rail-based transport network capacity by 10 per cent and deliver substantial economic benefits for all of London and the South East. Latest economic forecasts suggest that Crossrail will add �42bn to the economy, resulting in a �17bn tax boost for the Treasury.

Up to 14,000 people will be employed at the peak of construction in 2013/2015, with an estimated further 7,000 jobs created indirectly.