Transport for London (TfL) have unveiled the new, fully accessible Crossrail trains that are due to enter service from May 2017.

Crossrail will update the current Reading to Paddington line, which stops at West Drayton, Hayes & Harlington, Southall, Hanwell, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway and Acton Main Line.

When fully open in 2019, Crossrail will join these stations to destinations such as Canary Wharf, Stratford and Heathrow Airport.

Carrying 200 million customers a year, Crossrail will mean more frequent and reliable journeys and support more homes and jobs across London and the South East.

The new trains are being built by Bombardier Transportation's UK factory in Derby and are helping to support 760 UK jobs and 80 apprenticeships.

Each train will provide space for 1,500 customers in nine fully-interconnected, walk-through carriages. At over 200 metres in length, they are over one and a half times longer than the longest Tube train.

A look inside a Crossrail train

Constructed using strong, but lightweight materials and will regenerate electricity back into the power supply when braking to use up to 30 per cent less energy, as well as delivering faster journey times than the old trains they will replace between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said: "It's fantastic to think that these sleek new trains will soon be transporting millions of people across our great city and beyond.

"They're feature packed, eye-catching machines that showcase the best of British design and engineering. They'll add vital capacity to our rail network and will help to ensure our economy continues its onward journey full-steam ahead.

"The largest construction project in Europe is another tantalising step closer to becoming a brand new working railway for the Capital."

Customers can benefit from free wifi on board as well as 4G Internet on platforms and there will be four dedicated wheelchair spaces on each train.

Wheelchair bay inside the train

Howard Smith, TfL's Operations Director of Crossrail, said: "Crossrail will mean faster, more frequent and reliable journeys for people in London, Essex and out to Berkshire.

"It will help us serve London's growing population and support more jobs and homes, with around 200 million customers expected to travel on Crossrail each year."

All platforms and trains across the Crossrail network will be will be fully accessible with step-free access and manual boarding ramps at stations where is not possible to provide level boarding. Travel Safe Officers will also be present across the network to offer assistance to customers.

The Crossrail train design has been launched during TfL and the London Transport Museum's 18-month 'Transported by Design' programme.

A programme of events, exhibitions and competitions that celebrate the role of good design on London's transport network is running until December 2016.