Contract Signed for Delivery of New Piccadilly Line Trains
Deal comes as union asks management to 'come clean' about service problems
New Piccadilly line train design. Picture: Siemens
London Underground have signed a contract with Siemens Mobility for the delivery of 94 new trains to run on the Piccadilly line.
The deal, which they indicated their intention to sign back in June, will see rolling stock from the 1970s replaced.
The current trains are old, increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain and the RMT union have blamed recent problems with the service on the inadequate trains currently operating. They say that the on-going disruption which began last Wednesday and also occurred on the day of the announcement of the contract signing (20 November), is being caused by previous problems with the rolling stock wheels and has caused service suspensions between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge resulting in an impact along the rest of line.
The RMT claim that London Underground (LUL management is not putting out accurate information about the level of service at the moment with platform indicators showing a good service when there are problems on the line. The union say this angers passengers and puts staff at increased risk of assault and abuse.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said, “It’s bad enough that yet again London Underground are sending out sub-standard trains, but to actively mislead the public and staff with an impression that all is well is a dangerous farce and must be called to a halt.
“Frontline station staff, already massively over worked through years of cuts, do not need yet more pressure and the risk of confrontation from angry customers because of the companies dishonesty .
“It also does nothing for LUL’s reputation as a transport provider in a world class city to show this contempt for its passengers . RMT will now be taking steps to advise staff of their rights under safety legislation and will continue to demand that Londoners are told the truth about the service being provided.”
From 2023, the new ‘Inspiro London’ trains will be delivered for testing on the Piccadilly line, with current estimates indicating the first of these trains will be in service in 2024. Transport for London (TfL) say these will improve reliability and enable increased frequencies during peak times by the end of 2026 (up from 24 to 27 trains-per-hour). This service - a train every 135 seconds at the busiest times - will help to address crowding on the line as London’s population continues to rise.
The new trains will have wider doors and longer, walk-through, fully air-conditioned carriages. In addition, in-train information systems will help all passengers plan their onward journey.
The initial order is for 94 trains and an associated Fleet Services Agreement covering the supply of spares and whole life technical support (a value of approximately £1.5bn). This has been awarded with the expectation that Siemens Mobility will build trains for all four Deep Tube lines – the Piccadilly, Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo & City.
Nigel Holness, Managing Director of London Underground, said, “The introduction of new trains on the Piccadilly line will significantly improve the journeys of millions of our customers, providing more frequent and more reliable trains for decades to come. This order will mean the replacement of the 1970s Piccadilly line fleet, with delivery of the new trains in 2023, and will help address crowding on the line as London’s population continues to rise.”
Siemens Mobility announced earlier this year, their plans to build a new factory in Goole, East Yorkshire, to manufacture and commission trains.
November 20, 2018