Bigger Better Trains Arrive On The District Line

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New S class trains through Fulham and Putney to Wimbledon

A new generation of bigger and better ‘s-class’ trains are now being rolled out on District Line services between Wimbledon and Edgware – bringing overcrowding relief to thousands of local commuters in Fulham, Putney and Wimbledon.

The s-class trains are longer than the carriages they're replacing. Passengers can walk the whole length of the train, so it is easier to get to the least crowded parts, and this also improves passenger safety and security, according to Transport for London. The new trains provide an 18 per cent increase in capacity.

The new trains have been welcomed by Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands, who says: "This is fantastic news for Fulham and many stops beyond. I have been campaigning for more trains on the Wimbledon branch for years.

"These new trains will now add significantly more capacity on the line making for more efficient, comfortable and smoother journeys. The air-conditioning will also be welcome during the summer months.

" I travel by the District Line at least twice a day between Fulham, Chelsea and Westminster and am looking forward to using them; I’m sure many residents are too."

Similar S-Stock trains were introduced on the on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines last September and have proved popular with passengers. The District Line's existing trains are more than 40 years old. They started service in 1969/70 and were manufactured in two batches in 1969, with a further supply in 1977.

By the end of 2016 there will be 191 of the new trains on 40% of the Tube network running on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.

The new trains are built by Bombardier in Derby and are all air conditioned and have lower floors to ease accessibility for disabled people and parents with buggies. CCTV also enables the driver to see into every carriage while track-to-train video links give the driver a better view of the outside of the train before leaving a station.

October 22, 2014