Transport for London announces the next four Tube lines to be upgraded: Circle Line, District Line, Metropolitan Line and Hammersmith & City Line
Transport for London (TfL) has announced plans to begin modernisation work on 40 per cent of London's Tube network.
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In a statement today, the body said work will begin later this year on updating the signalling and train control systems on the Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines.
The body said the work, will increase the frequency of trains during peak periods to 32 per hour in central London. That's a train every two minutes.
However, it added that upgrade work on the overcrowded Piccadilly, Central, Bakerloo and Waterloo & City lines won't begin until this round of upgrades has been delivered, expected to be by 2022.
The announcement comes off the back of completed modernisation plans on the Victoria Line, where 34 trains run per hour, as well as the Jubilee Line, which has 30 trains per hour. Work's just begun on the Northern Line, which TfL reckons will eventually increase capacity to allow space for 12,500 passengers per hour.
The £760m contract for the signalling and train control systems has been awarded to French transport contractor Thales, although a £5.4bn budget has been set aside for the upgrades, which also includes the cost of 191 air-conditioned, walkthrough trains, new track, longer platforms and rebuilt, high-tech train depots with "advanced technology to ensure the highest levels of train reliability", TfL said.
The body added that for every £1 it spends, it expects to get £4.70 back in economic benefits.
Nick Brown, London Underground's managing director, said the move will "transform the journeys of millions of our customers, significantly increasing service and reliability and frequently".
If only the same could be said of its drivers, who are due to wreak havoc again on Wednesday with another day of strikes…