New Year Boost for District, Hammersmith & City and Circle Lines
First tube section to benefit from new system allowing more frequent trains
Transport for London (TfL) says its engineers have completed their biggest test to date of new signalling that will bring more frequent and reliable journeys to 40% of the Tube network, including the District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines.
TfL says they joined engineers from Thales to work around the clock, rigorously testing trains on a new computer-based signalling and control system between Hammersmith and Edgware Road, which will be the first section of the Tube to go live with the new signalling system in 2018.
The new Thales signalling and control system will allow trains to run closer together, meaning a more frequent service and shorter waiting times for customers.
Similar technology, which means thousands more passengers can be carried each hour, is already used on the Jubilee and Northern lines. Customers using the Victoria line are also experiencing the benefits of shorter waiting times following a separate upgrade of its signalling system, which finished in May.
TfL says when the signalling upgrade is completed customers will benefit from a boost in capacity during the busiest times, which will allow:
• 17,500 more customers per hour on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines,
• 10,000 more customers per hour on the District line
• 9,000 more customers per hour on the Metropolitan line
Mark Wild, London Underground’s Managing Director, said: "This is another significant moment in our vital programme to revolutionise nearly half of the Tube. Great progress is being made and, as early as next year, customers will start to see improved reliability and the most up-to-date customer information as the signalling is introduced.
"This programme is an important part of our multi-billion pound investment to overhaul some of the oldest parts of the Tube and improve journeys for our customers."
December 5, 2017
