Modernisation of Circle, District and Hammersmith & City Lines Begins

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TfL says overhaul will bring 'more trains, more quickly' by early 2020s

The installation of new signalling equipment has begun on track between Edgware Road and Hammersmith - the first of a complete overhaul of the signalling and control systems across four tube lines.

It is part of the modernisation programme for four underground lines - Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan being undertaken by Transport for London (TfL).

Together those lines make up 40% of the Tube network and three of them are vital to Hammersmith and Fulham and west and south west London.

The new signalling will allow London Underground to run more trains, more quickly, providing a 33% increase in capacity across the four lines by the early 2020s according to TfL.

The new signalling is being provided by Thales - the global transportation systems provider - and is similar to the systems now being used on the Jubilee and Northern lines, where TfL say performance and reliability have improved and journey times have been cut.

The new signalling system will be installed in sections across the four lines between now and 2021 with the main benefits being delivered by 2022, when the frequency of trains running during peak periods will increase to 32 trains per hour in central London - a train every two minutes - with frequency increases at other times as well.

Andrew Pollins, Managing Director of London Underground, says: " This is a major step in delivering this vital upgrade for millions of our customers. The signalling system on these lines is some of the oldest in use anywhere in the world, with parts of it dating back to the 1930s.

" The use of this newer, more sophisticated signalling system will mean more frequent, more reliable and less crowded journeys and will help us meet rapidly growing customer demand."

Customers are already seeing improved services on the four lines with the introduction of new air-conditioned trains on the entire network in 2016.

Further benefits will include a train control system, which will increase capacity further starting with services in central London from late 2021, with additional frequent services at peak times. Throughout 2022 and due for completion by 2023, further improvements to peak and off peak services will take place.

Once these four lines have been completed, LU will then move on to introducing new trains and control systems for the Piccadilly, Central, Bakerloo, and Waterloo & City lines.

June 7, 2016