Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled the detailed design of its next-generation tube trains for the Piccadilly line, which will replace the existing 1970s fleet from 2025.
According to TfL, the trains currently running on the line have become increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain and will be 50 years old by the time they are replaced.
As the 94 new trains are introduced to the Piccadilly line, the current fleet will be gradually withdrawn from passenger service and the frequency of trains in peak hours will rise from 24 to 27 trains per hour from mid-2027. This is a train every 135 seconds at the busiest times and represents a 23% increase in peak service capacity.
Co-designed with Siemens Mobility, the new ‘Inspiro London’ trains feature wider doors and longer, walk-through, air-conditioned carriages. The new trains also boast 10% more capacity and are said to be significantly lighter than existing designs, meaning energy efficiency will be increased and damage to tracks reduced.
TfL said this had been achieved by using an articulated design, meaning fewer bogies – the structures containing the wheels, motors and suspension to support and power the train – are required per full-length train. This will also result in a smoother ride.
Furthermore, the new trains are 95% recoverable and also offer regenerative braking capability, traction systems, LED lighting throughout and advanced energy management. This means energy consumption will be reduced by 20% compared with the existing fleet.
The trains will be fully walk-through, boosting accessibility and ensuring customers can move easily to quieter areas of the train. The train design has been developed with feedback from TfL’s Independent Disability Advisory Group and the TfL Accessibility Forum.
Some 50% of the new train fleet will be built in Goole, East Yorkshire, employing up to 700 people in engineering and manufacturing roles, 250 in the construction phase and 1,700 in the broader supply chain.
Last month Siemens Mobility announced £50m of related contracts for UK suppliers, including a number for train components. These included almost £6m in contracts for Yorkshire-based LPA Lighting to provide the interior train lighting, Midlands-based suppliers Baker Bellfield to supply cab partition walls and I M Kelly for driver seats and footrests.
Andy Lord, managing director of London Underground, said: “The introduction of new, desperately-needed modern and reliable trains on the Piccadilly line, and the capacity they will provide, will be a boost for the capital.
“Sustained long-term investment would enable us to introduce more modern trains over time to replace other ageing fleets alongside new signalling, improving the journeys of millions more customers and reducing the costs of running the Tube.””
According to TfL, plans for new Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo & City line trains remain “shovel ready” but are on hold until a long-term funding deal is agreed with the UK government.
