Transport for London (TfL) has welcomed the first of the new Piccadilly line trains to the capital, ahead of a programme of intensive testing before the new trains start entering service by the end of 2025.
The test train is the first of a fleet of 94 new trains that are being built for TfL by Siemens Mobility to replace the existing fleet which is nearly 50 years old.
They are part of a £2.9bn modernisation programme which will boost journey times, train frequency and reliability as well as making the Piccadilly line more accessible and sustainable.
Around 80% of the new trains will be built at Siemens Mobility’s new factory in Goole, East Yorkshire, which was officially opened earlier this month.
The nine-carriage trains will increase capacity by around 10% and feature walk-through, air-conditioned carriages, wider all-double doorways to help customers get on and off more easily, enhanced digital display screens for real-time customer information, and on-train CCTV cameras for additional customer security.
The trains are reportedly lighter than existing designs which means they are more energy efficient and provide a smoother ride for customers, consuming 20% less energy.
TfL reports that all of the new Piccadilly line trains are expected to be in service by the end of 2027 when the frequency of trains will increase from the current 24 trains per hour to 27 trains per hour.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It’s an exciting moment for London as testing begins on the new Piccadilly line trains.
“These state-of-the-art trains – most of which will be manufactured here in the UK – will be more spacious, equipped with CCTV cameras and, for the first time ever in a Deep Tube train, air-conditioned, to make everyone’s journeys more comfortable.
“These new trains are just one example of the work we’re doing to continue delivering the world-class transport network Londoners deserve, building a better, greener London for everyone.”
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