Siemens has unveiled the new designs for the new Piccadilly line trains that will be used by Transport for London.
At the press unveiling, held remotely due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the new designs were unveiled, with Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, saying that the tube network is the “beating heart of the capital”.
Construction of the new trains will be completed in Goole, Yorkshire, with up to 700 employees being hired.
The new trains are expected to begin entering service from 2025.
In a world first for a deep tube train, Siemens and Transport for London will be able to provide air conditioning on the new trains for passengers.
The trains are more reliable and more environmentally friendly than the outgoing trains.
Sadiq Khan also said that his aim was to “unlock the power of transport” whilst also saying that it was “more important” post COVID to have a modern transport network.
Managing Director for London Underground, Andy Lord, said that these trains would provide a ‘transformational' change for passengers.
Sambit Banerjee, CEO Rolling Stock Siemens Mobility UK, said that it had been an “extraordinary effort from both TfL and Siemens.”
Andy said that it was an ‘incredibly exciting time' and that the new trains are ‘amazing'.
A lot of feedback has gone into the accessibility, with design feedback being sent in from stakeholders.
“The whole of London will benefit from greener trains”, according to Andy Lord, with real time Customer Information Screens helping passengers to plan ahead for their journey. Security is also key for the new trains, with all new trains being fitted with CCTV systems.
The new fleet of trains will be maintained at the North Fields depot, with Andy Lord saying that “significant investment” will be made into the depot to modify it for new trains and the track surrounding the depot, with upgrades to power needed.
Lots of training is needed for the new trains for both engineers and operators which will be needed before the trains can enter passenger service.
Also needed is platform alterations at some of stations on the network to provide better access thanks to the wider doors on the Inspiro trains.
Half of the new trains will be built in Goole, Yorkshire, whilst the remaining trains will be built in Vienna.
94 trains will soon start being constructed to replace the 1973-stock cureently in use on the Piccadilly Line, which are approaching being 50 years old.
Andy Lord, MD for London Underground, said that keeping project on track “has been a challenge” but the “design unveiling is a key milestone”.
Finally, the new trains will result in a 10% increase in capacity, with a capacity of up to 1,433 passengers, all whilst using 20% less energy.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that there was still “much more to do to improve the service for passengers”, and will continue to “put pressure” on the government to allow more upgrades to be completed, but said he “looked forward to riding on the new trains”.
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. We're pleased that our investment in new trains is helping the UK economy and assisting with the recovery from the pandemic, and we look forward to seeing them on the network in years to come. 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.”
William Wilson, CEO of Siemens Mobility Limited, added: “The state-of-the-art trains will transform the Piccadilly line passenger experience. They are lighter, more environmentally-friendly and future-proofed for a long life. But the benefits are not just confined to London. Building the new trains creates new UK jobs and extensive supply chain opportunities. A great example of levelling up in action.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “These much-needed new trains will be a great step forward for our city, improving frequency, reliability and capacity on the Piccadilly line. The continued modernisation of the Tube – which has seen a transformation over the last two decades – is a key part of my Transport Strategy to make London a greener, more affordable, more accessible place. But we need investment to continue this work. I will keep lobbying the Government to deliver a long-term, viable funding model for TfL, which would enable us to carry out more upgrades to the network's ageing infrastructure, boost our economy and deliver a green recovery for London and the wider country.”
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Great news for the Piccadilly Line. But what about the Bakerloo Line. Who is going to build new tube trains for the Bakerloo Line. And new tube trains for the Central Line and Waterloo & City Line.