First of 94 new Piccadilly Line trains arrive in London for testing

Transport for London has taken delivery of the first of the new Piccadilly Line Tube trains, prior to an intensive programme of testing before entering service by the end of 2025.

The test train is the first of a fleet of 94 new trains that are being built for TfL by Siemens Mobility, to replace the existing trains which are nearly 50 years old. 

They are part of a £2.9 billion modernisation programme which aims to boost journey times, train frequency and reliability, as well as making the Piccadilly Line more accessible and sustainable.

Around 80% of the new trains will be built at Siemens’ new factory in Goole, which opened in early October (RAIL 1020).

The test train was built in Vienna and has spent the past year on the test track at Wildenrath, in Germany. From there, it made its 400-mile journey to London, where it will undergo a period of commissioning activities before rigorous integration testing begins to ensure it is compatible with existing infrastructure on the Piccadilly Line. 

Testing will initially take place overnight during engineering hours and some planned closures, with test trains running during the day in gaps between normal services as the date of their introduction gets closer.

The nine-carriage trains will increase capacity by around 10% and feature: walk-through, air-conditioned carriages; wider all-double doorways to help passengers get on and off more easily; enhanced digital display screens for real-time customer information; and on-train CCTV cameras for additional customer security. 

The trains are lighter than existing designs, which means they provide a smoother ride for customers and are more energy-efficient, consuming 20% less energy.

All of the new Piccadilly Line trains are expected to be in service by the end of 2027, when train frequency will increase from the current 24 trains per hour to 27tph.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “It’s an exciting moment for London as testing begins on the new Piccadilly Line trains. These trains will be more spacious, equipped with CCTV cameras, and air-conditioned to make everyone’s journey more comfortable.”

The Piccadilly Line Upgrade, which is taking place on one of London’s deepest Tube lines with some of the oldest track and signalling infrastructure, means that a series of closures are ongoing to complete vital track and platform upgrades. 

TfL is also using any part-closures as an opportunity to complete additional depot, signalling, power supply and track maintenance work.TfL is also progressing work on plans to upgrade and extend the Bakerloo Line, with the immediate priority to secure the long-term capital funding that would allow the replacement of the existing 36-train Bakerloo line fleet. At over 50 years old, it is the oldest operating in daily passenger service anywhere in the UK. 

Securing a new fleet of trains (which the Siemens factory in Goole would be expected to deliver) and signalling would transform the Bakerloo Line, boosting accessibility, reliability and comfort for the millions of customers who use it each year.