More Frequent Tube Service Promised Due To New Signalling

But passengers will need to wait at least until 2021 for more regular trains

A new computer-based signalling and control system which will allow trains to run closer together is currently being tested by London Underground. They say the system which is being installed by engineering group Thales will eventually mean a more frequent service, shorter waiting times and a boost in capacity for the District, Circle Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines. However service frequency isn’t set to increase until 2021 and District line passengers may have to wait even longer for any significant improvements.

London Underground are promising that some passengers will start to benefit from the improvements from as early as next year, when the first section of the network to use the new signalling system goes live. The system aims for greater reliability by reducing the number of signalling problems on sections of the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines next year, and should improve the accuracy of real-time customer information on these lines. Services will begin to increase in frequency from 2021, when more of the network is operating the new system, and all four lines will be using the system by 2023. We asked for more details about the timetable for introduction on the District line but they said they were unable to provide more detail at this stage.

Further testing weekends will take place in the coming months as the system is progressively installed across more of the network. This capacity increase, up to 33 per cent across all four lines, will improve the whole sub-surface network, which makes up 40 per cent of the Underground network. The modernisation will also mean that Night Tube services can be introduced on these lines in the future.

Testing took place between Hammersmith and Latimer Road featuring three newly-enabled S stock trains. The testing involved using the new signalling system to manage the distance between trains. The new modern ‘S stock’ trains that run on all four lines are currently having new equipment installed, with 30 already fitted out by Bombardier.

Mark Wild, the Managing Director of London Underground, said: “The new signalling system will provide our customers with more frequent trains and quicker journeys, as well as improving reliability and improving customer information. We are making improvements for our customers all over the network and this programme represents a hugely significant part of that work.”

Shaun Jones, Vice-President, Transport at Thales in the UK, said: “This is a significant milestone for us to achieve on this critical upgrade for London. We have demonstrated that our state-of-the-art radio communications technology will deliver better, more reliable journeys on 40 per cent of the network, creating a world-class transport system for our capital city”.

The next testing weekend will be in December, with installation work continuing throughout the year.

October 14, 2017