Latest news with #PiccadillyLine
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
New £3billion fleet of more than 90 air-conditioned trains promised for the end of 2025 delayed for another YEAR
A HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED fleet of air-conditioned London Underground trains have been delayed by another year. The new £3 billion tube trains were expected to be in use by the end of the year. 2 The launch of the 'game-changing' fleet on the Piccadilly line will now be delayed by up to a year, according to The Standard. This massive blow to London commuters comes after the fleet was revealed to be the first 'deep level' Tube trains to be air conditioned. The eagerly-awaited fleet, which consists of 94 trains, will offer 10% more capacity as well as wider doors for quicker boarding, walk through carriages, and CCTV. They will replace an 'age expired' fleet of older Piccadilly line trains which dates to 1973. The update will enable peak-hour frequencies to be increased from 24 to 27 trains an hour, and will eventually see 36 trains running each hour, equivalent to the Victoria line. Transport for London (TFL) originally announced the first new Piccadilly line train would enter passenger service by the end of 2025. However, TfL publicly confirm on Friday, June 20 that the new trains are now not expected until the 'second half of 2026'. This delay has been caused by unexpected difficulties in introducing the first new train to challenging 'real life' conditions on London Underground infrastructure. The new trains are understood to have performed well on the test track. While first batch of trains are being built by Siemens in Vienna, Austria, the bulk of the order will be assembled at Siemens' new factory in Goole, east Yorkshire. Inside world's craziest city where you never know which floor you're on, trains run through houses & maps are useless A source told The Standard that the electrical equipment underneath the new trains was 'not in the right alignment'. TfL confirmed on Friday that 'the start of a rigorous programme of testing the interactions with the infrastructure and systems is delayed until the summer'. Part or full closures of the Piccadilly line will continue over the weekends to prepare the stations for the new nine-carriage trains. Stuart Harvey, TfL's chief capital officer, who is in charge of the introduction of the new trains, spoke on the latest update. 'It will obviously be disappointing for customers that they will have to wait a bit longer for the new trains, and I regret that," he said. Three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK Cornish Coast - One trip that rail enthusiasts seem to love is along a stretch of the Cornish coast and takes just 10 minutes to complete. The route from St Erth to St Ives only stops at Carbis Bay en route to its final destination, but the views out the window for the whole journey are pretty spectacular. Another highlight of the journey is that St Ives station is situated right next to Porthminster beach, meaning the sand and sea can be accessed almost immediately. Meanwhile, the station is less than a ten minute walk into town, where the harbour, shops, galleries and pubs can be explored. Durham to Edinburgh - Another train route that people in the UK love is the East Coast train line between Durham and Edinburgh, with coastal views and city landscapes among the sights that can be seen out the window. Newcastle, Berwick, Lindisfarne and Durham Cathedral are all among the highlights on that route. Scotland's West Highland Line - While Scotland is home to plenty of famous landmarks and top attractions, it also has one of the most breathtaking train routes in the world. Scotland's West Highland Line has previously been dubbed the best rail journey in the world by Wanderlust - and it's easy to see why. The journey from Glasgow to Fort William is one of my favourite train routes - and I've interrailed through mainland Europe. With mountain landscapes, serene lochs, wistful moors, and wildlife all visible through the train window, it's certainly a route all holidaymakers should consider doing at least once. 'But I would like to assure Londoners and visitors to our city that we are working extremely closely with Siemens to ensure that the new trains can be introduced as soon as possible." He estimated that the first fleet will come into operation "in the second half of next year", with a new 'window' set between July and December 2026. "Siemens and TfL are absolutely focused on trying to achieve the July end of the window,' he said. 'But it's too early to say we can get that yet.' He added that the hope is that all 94 trains will be in service '18 to 20 months' after the first one starts running. This would meaning the entire fleet would be in operation by the end of 2027 or early 2028. This delay means Underground passengers face an additional summer of soaring temperatures on the Picadilly line. 2 The first new Picadilly train arrived in London last October, and was spotted overnight on Underground tracks in west London in March. The TFL rep said the new trains would have a 'transformative effect' in the capital. The Piccadilly line connects King's Cross and the West End with Heathrow airport and beyond and is used for more than 10% of all daily Tube journeys – about 160 million trips a year. And watch as a TFL driver shows what he gets up to during his work shift. A busy UK train station is also set to close for a year to undergo a "state-of-the-art" transformation.
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
New Piccadilly line trains delayed by up to a year
New Piccadilly line trains will now be introduced up to a year later than 94 fully walk-through trains with air-conditioning and CCTV had been pencilled in for passenger use in late for London (TfL) confirmed that this was now scheduled to happen in the second half of for the trains will begin this summer, TfL said. The new-generation trains will replace the existing 1970s fleet. The new trains will be lighter and more environmentally friendly, with real-time displays and wider doorways. The model is being described as the "most complex" train ever to be introduced to the Tube said some of the engineering challenges were down to the Piccadilly line being one of the longest and deepest Tube lines. The network added that the engineering complexities had been more challenging than expected, which had caused the delay to the rollout. Siemens Mobility and TfL said it would take up to a year to test the trains, which is partly due to the tunnel infrastructure on a rail line that is nearly 120 years Banerjee, Joint CEO at Siemens Mobility, said: "We're sorry we can't have our innovative trains running for passengers even sooner but, once they're in service, the technology on these new trains will bring smoother, greener and more comfortable journeys for Londoners for the next 30 or more years."
Metro
2 days ago
- Climate
- Metro
The ultimate guide for travelling on the Tube in a heatwave
Summer has finally hit the UK, with hot weather that will see the mercury climb as high as 30°C. It's so hot, in fact, that the previous record of 40°C, in July 2022, could be under threat. As much as we love a bit of heat and sunshine, it makes for some pretty sticky conditions when it comes to the morning and evening commute – with temperatures soaring on the Tube as well as above ground. To avoid a sweltering journey that sees you arrive at your destination drenched in sweat, you might want to opt for a route that will keep you as cool as possible. But which Tube lines have air conditioning? And which other train and transport services offer it? Only a handful of London Underground lines currently have air conditioning, and they are as follows: Circle Hammersmith & City District Metropolitan Elizabeth The good news is that the Piccadilly Line set to join the ranks of those lines with air con as its new trains come into service this year. The Bakerloo Line, Waterloo and City Line, and Central Line will also be getting air conditioned trains in the future but you might have to wait a while – particularly for the Central Line. Speaking on a Twitter post in 2019, Central Line head of fleet Steve Lammin said: 'We've improved ventilation systems on the current fleet. 'New trains are coming in early 2030, under the Deep Tube Upgrade Program which will be delivered with full air cooling systems.' Dates for the new Bakerloo and Waterloo and City Line trains have not been confirmed, and there are no plans for any upgrades to the Jubilee, Northern or Victoria Lines. Previous reports suggested the Bakerloo Line is the hottest of all during warm weather, but in August 2024 TFL revealed the Victoria Line had the hottest average temperature of 28.2°C – although this rose to 30°C between June and October. This was closely followed by the Central Line, with an average temperature of 26.7°C.. The Central Line is one of the hottest tube lines because of its age and depth beneath the ground. It is one of the oldest Underground routes in London and was opened as The Central Railway in 1900 with early extensions carried out in 1920 and in the 1940s. The line is a deep-level tube which means it is at least 20 metres underground and travels through two small tunnels to reach each station. This compact space and lack of ventilation stops the heat generated from dispersing and therefore keeps it contained. More Trending The old design of the tunnels also makes it difficult to create enough extra ventilation to have much of an effect. If you want to avoid a sweaty journey on the Tube, you can try any of the following transport services running throughout the capital, all of which are air-conditioned: Overground Northern City Thameslink Trams If you really can't avoid a non-air-conditioned route in hot weather, Transport For London offers the following tips on its website to make your journey easier. Carry water with you at all times Don't board a train or bus if you feel unwell If you feel unwell, please get off at the next stop and contact a member of staff at the next station or speak to the bus driver Where possible, consider retiming journeys to less busy times Passengers are also advised only to travel if absolutely necessary when temperatures rocket past the 40°C mark. Switch up your journey: As well as choosing different public transport, you could opt for a 'Boris Bike' in London, or similar cycle sharing scheme in your area. Why not make the most of the sun? Bring a fan: Whether you go analogue or electric, a handheld fan will save your life on a busy commute. Hack your clothes: If you have to wear a suit or something heavy, stick it in your bag before you get into the office. On the journey itself, look for clothes that are made of breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. Stay hydrated: As we've mentioned, it's important to drink plenty of water. Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: I love living in London — but it sucks in the summer MORE: Another e-bike brand is set to launch in London this summer MORE: Dad left 'in misery' after ceiling collapses three times in London home
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The London Underground is running vintage 1930s trains on one of its top lines next month
YOU can ride on a vintage 1930s tube on the London Underground next month. Dating back 160 years, the London Underground is the oldest transport system of its kind in the world. 4 4 4 And whilst the Piccadilly line is due to get new trains, the London Transport Museum is first allowing people to ride on an art deco Underground train from 1938. The restored heritage train will be running along the Piccadilly line from Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 13. However, you won't be paying the normal tube fare. Riders will need to buy a ticket in advance, with prices varying according to each day. On Friday, the train will take passengers on a return journey from Northfields and around the Heathrow loop via Terminal 4. There will be four services throughout the day and a 'gold ticket' for the front carriage is £30 per adult and £20 for kids. Bronze tickets costs £25 per adult and £15 per child. On the Saturday, there will be three 90-minute return journeys from Acton Town to Uxbridge. Tickets for these rides will cost £27.50 if you want to sit in the front or back carriages or £17.50 for children. The rest of the carriages will cost £25 per adult and £15 for children. Huge new £1.3billion redevelopment to create new 'cultural hub' in London On the final day - Sunday - riders can hop on for one of two one-way journeys from Ealing Broadway to Cockfosters for £30 in the gold car, or £20 for children. Or £25 for the bronze cars (£15 for children). Tickets can be booked on the London Transport Museums' website. According to Transport for London, the Piccadilly line opened as the Great Northern, Piccadilly & Brompton Railway on 15 December 1906. Originally, it ran between Finsbury Park and Hammersmith and the line remained much the same until the 1930s when it expanded rapidly, incorporating stations which are now regarded as classic examples of period architecture. A £100milllion beachfront attraction with indoor gardens and pools is also set to transform a seaside town. Plus, an up-and-coming city has revealed a major new attraction opening in 2026 – with links to Hollywood. 4
