Transport for London (TfL) is set to start testing its new Underground trains. Officials have outlined what these will be like, as they ‘transform’ commuters’ journeys.
The new stock is just part of a £2.9 billion upgrade of the dark blue route. Up to 80 per cent of the new trains will be built in the UK at Siemens Mobility’s new manufacturing facility in Goole, Yorkshire.
The new carriages will be walk-through, similar to those on the Elizabeth line, and have wider all-double doorways. Officials say these will help customers get on and off more easily.
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In addition, the new stock will feature ‘enhanced’ digital display screens showing customer information, as well as on-train CCTV cameras for additional customer security. Further, the new trains, for the first time on a Deep Tube train, provide air-conditioning.
This will be welcome news for many a customer. Last year, though, TfL outlined how this will be done slightly differently.
Answering a freedom of information request, a case officer stated: “The system uses vapour-compression refrigeration with temperature control but without the humidity control that is typically provided in buildings. Strictly speaking this is an ‘air cooling’ system, however this type of system is widely referred to as an ‘air conditioning’ system when referring to trains and other mobile applications such as cars.”
Bosses have also said that the state of the art carriages will increase capacity on the line by 10 per cent, also improving energy efficiency and accessibility.
Line closures to test new stock
Bosses have today (Tuesday, July 23) confirmed when closures to allow ‘essential track and platform upgrades’ to be completed ahead of the first new Piccadilly line test train arriving later this year will take place. Weekend part closures on the Piccadilly line in July and August will be followed by a 16-day part closure from Saturday, August 17, to Sunday, September 1 (Wood Green to Cockfosters and Rayners Lane to Uxbridge).
A reduced service expected on other parts of the Piccadilly line due to the unavailability of trains at this time. Rail replacement buses will serve all stations between Wood Green and Cockfosters, although bosses have advised customers travelling to Central London that they may find it quicker to use local bus services to connect to nearby alternative Tube and rail stations. Customers who use Piccadilly line services to Uxbridge have been urged to change at Rayners Lane for the Metropolitan line.
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