First new Piccadilly line train arrives in London
The first new Piccadilly line train has arrived in London today ahead of entering service next year.
In a first for deep-line stock, the Siemens-built units will feature air con as existing 50 year old trains head to the scrap yard. They’ll also have walk-through carriages.
The first train is now at Ruislip and has already managed to be tagged en route.
In total 94 new trains will replace 86 existing 1973 stock enabling an increase in frequency. That enables an uplift from 24 trains per hour to 27 which, coupled with greater space on board via elements such as walk-through carriages, ensures a 20 per cent overall capacity increase.
Sidings
To accommodate the new stock Cockfosters and Northfields depots are seeing new facilities with extra stabling track and cleaning facilities.
South Harrow is also seeing extra stabling tracks.
Transport for London’s latest board meeting being held this week offers some further details:
“The first of the initial maintenance facilities at Northfields have now been completed, and we continue to make good progress with the contractors on engagement for the design and build for the end-state depot facilities.
“Major track replacement works have been completed in the Arnos Grove area which has enabled platform improvements in preparation for the new trains. During the closure we also progressed with infrastructure works at Oakwood and Cockfosters depots.”
A month of “essential work is taking place at Caledonian Road which means there will be separate temporary eastbound and westbound platform closures between 14 October and 21 November.”.
New trains will now undergo extensive testing before introduction before the end of 2025.
All being well that is. Many trains are late. South Western Railways new Class 701 Arterio stock is running five years late while the DLR stock was supposed to start running in passenger service by April 2024. Still no confirmed date there.
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The Bakerloo Line desperately needs new tube trains so that they can start to replace the 1972 Stock. And to upgrade the depots and sidings on the Bakerloo Line. It’s nice to see that the Piccadilly Line is getting brand new tube trains that will be in service from next year.
Why does something like this always take 50 years but bank of England can pump out funds to no end on a dime for QE
I will be looking forward to seeing these brand new tube trains operating on the Piccadilly Line from next year. It’s about time that the Piccadilly Line needs a massive upgrade including getting brand new trains to replace the existing 1973 tube stock. They do look really impressive.
Plus I hope that the new Siemens train manufacturing plant at Goole can get create more jobs and more new trains to be built and manufactured. As well as Siemens to manufacture the new Bakerloo Line trains to replace the 1972 tube stock.