One of the periodic reports from TfL has been released with details of ongoing network upgrades across the networks it controls over the past few months. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on when the lines are closed at weekends, this will inform you.
Line upgrades
Subsurface lines
@SteveWhite2tfl
They completed their biggest test of the new signalling system in February, running more trains than before on the upgraded section between Hammersmith and Edgware Road.
The fleet of 192 new S-stock trains is now being fitted with the technology needed to operate the new signalling system, and work is underway to deliver the first phase of the programme by the end of June, which is ahead of schedule.
The new signalling control room is now complete at Hammersmith and due to go live this month.
Jubilee line
A per-announcement, that the rush-hour peak service will be expanded by an hour in the evenings during May, offering 30 trains per hour between West Hampstead and Greenwich.
Central line
Approval for £60 million is being sought to replace old components in the 1990s era signalling system to improve reliability.
Bakerloo line
Approval for £10 million is being sought to replace old components in the 1970s era signalling system to improve reliability.
London Overground
Work to relocate the ramp and two overhead line structures, and demolish the redundant Ripple Lane diesel depot building in preparation for the Barking Riverside extension were completed during possessions over Easter 2018.
Issues with the design process, and the collapse of Carillion delayed the tender contracts by seven months. They were issued in April 2018, although they still expect to complete the project in around March 2021.
Elizabeth line
Bond Street station
Testing of the new trains and systems continues in the tunnel section between Abbey Wood and Stepney Green. The trains are being tested progressively at increasing speeds, levels of automatic control and number of trains in the tunnels.
A significant step forward for the project took place on 13 April when testing started under full signalling control, with subsequent testing being undertaken in full automatic control and at speeds over 60mph.
Testing will be extended to the full central section route (Paddington to Abbey Wood) in July.
Testing continues using the European Train Control System (ETCS) signalling to allow the new trains to operate to Heathrow airport.
Stations
Nine Elms
Excavation to the base slab level for the new Northern line station is complete and work is underway to pour the station base slab and to install pre-cast station platforms.
Battersea Power Station
They have completed excavation to the station base slab level and we are now constructing the internal structure of the station.
Victoria
The new entrance and enlarged ticket hall opened in January.
Tottenham Court Road
A new angled boarding ramp has been deployed for use on the narrow westbound Central line platform to improve access for wheelchairs/prams.
Bank
They have finished pouring the concrete to cap the piling for the new basement and completed the tunnel works for the new Northern line platform.
They have installed new transformers and switchgear, and completed large cable pulls over two consecutive weekend platform closures. The running tunnel excavation to the north of the new platform continues.
The oft-delayed Waterloo & City line entrance which was due to open in May, is still being worked on.
Paddington
Two new escalators linking the Bakerloo and Elizabeth lines have been constructed and are ready for testing and commissioning. The installation of protected panelling continues and mechanical, electrical and piping works are
nearing completion.
Rolling Stock
DTUP Piccadilly line Upgrade
New tube for London – concept
The first stage of the Piccadilly line upgrade will include design, manufacture and delivery of a base order of 94 new trains which will allow the withdrawal from passenger service of the life-expired ‘73’ Tube Stock fleet.
The contract is due to be issued on 31st May 2018.
The new trains will start to arrive from 2023 and this will enable an initial timetable increase from the current 24 to 27 trains per hour in late-2026.
This will also see changes at Ealing Broadway with the Piccadilly line taking over that station from the District. The District line trains can then be used to increase capacity by 25% on the busier Richmond and Wimbledon branches of the District line.
As a frequent user/victim of it, the Piccadilly line upgrade cannot come soon enough. But only 27 trains per hour? Can that not be better to suit other lines?
Thanks for this and the regular transport weekly updates Ian!
Different line, but your comment reminded me of this London Reconnections article about the Victoria line heading towards 40 tph: https://www.londonreconnections.com/2017/ninety-second-railway-making-victoria-frequent-metro-world/
Great stuff. Two questions: will Piccadilly line then stop at Chiswick park?
When IS new Waterloo & City Line entrance at Walbrook opening? – it was supposed to be tomorrow (10th May)
Chiswick Park is the only station on this stretch of line that doesn’t have Piccadilly Line platforms, so there is currently no way for Pic line trains to stop there. As far as I am aware, there are no plans for a significant rebuild of the station to allow Pic trains to stop. There are still plans to add Turnham Green as a permanent stop on the Pic line, which can be achieved once the new signalling is in place.
Chiswick Park wouldn’t be served by District line trains if the District line no longer serves the tracks on which the platforms are located. The options would appear to be:
1) Close the station. Very unlikely.
2) Send just the Ealing Broadway Piccadilly line trains over the locals west of Turnham Green. This would require substantial modifications to the existing platforms there.
3) Build new platforms for the District line on the Richmond branch. This would give enhanced frequency.
New points are to be installed between the fast and slow lines so Picc trains will be able to call at the existing Chiswick Park platforms.
What about new tube stocks for the Bakerloo Line. If the Piccadilly Line is to get new tube trains in the next few years. To replace the current tube stocks that was built in the 1970’s.
Train manufactures Bombardier, CAF, Siemens, Alstom, Hitachi and Talgo could be bidding on to build and manufacture the new London Underground tube stocks for the 4 deep level tube lines (Bakerloo, Piccadilly, Central and Waterloo & City lines) in which might actually happen in the early/mid 2020’s.