To find out what rail upgrades Transport for London (TfL) has recently carried out, you can compile a summary from the latest reports from the Programs and Investment Committees.
The reports will be discussed at their meeting on Wednesday 26 June, but here is a summary of recent rail upgrades within TfL. This report covers quarter 4, which runs from December 10, 2023 to March 31, 2024.
Assets infographic (c) TfL
The lines
Central line
During a March closure of the eastern side of the line, new signaling equipment was tested and commissioned to replace outdated signaling room equipment at Debden, Epping and Theydon Bois.
TfL continues to work to stabilize the link between Grange Hill and Chigwell stations, including strengthening the N31 footbridge and drainage works. The project should be delivered on site by the end of June 2024.
DLR
Thirty of the planned 54 new DLR trains have been completed by the manufacturer in Spain.
However, the target date for the first of the new trains to enter service has been postponed due to a problem encountered during integration testing. This does not affect the end date for completing the fleet renewal.
Morgan Sindall has taken over work at the Beckton depot following the collapse of the previous contractor and is building the new sidings required for the extra trains.
Feasibility level design and initial value engineering work for a new station at Thames Wharf has been completed and discussions with the project developer are ongoing.
Work on the long line public address system has now been completed and migration is underway to bring the new system online
Elizabeth line
Some progress has been made in providing level boarding on the future Old Oak Common, with the DfT supporting HS2’s feasibility design to explore lowering tracks.
Anniversary line
A financial grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will support the heating of the Neasden depot.
Since the program’s inception, the renovation of the train wheels has faced several problems, including inaccurate material estimates, worker shortages and quality issues.
The contract to repair the cracks in the train’s undercarriage was awarded in March.
TfL is also progressing on schedule with work to upgrade the outdated tunnel ventilation control panels and refurbish the fans on the stair pressure system from Southwark to Canning Town and the intermediate shafts. The entire ventilation program is expected to end in September 2026.
Northern line
A financial grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will support the heating of Finchley Central’s signal depot.
London above ground
Power strengthening works on the Clapham Junction branch (which Network Rail manages) should be completed by the end of June 2024.
2,300 insulated track base plates in the Thames Tunnel will be replaced, with the first phase of work carried out over Christmas and March. The work is expected to be completed by March 2025
The last Class 710 train (Train 54) entered passenger service on March 22, 2024.
Piccadilly Line
TfL remains on track to receive the first new train in late summer 2024 and begin system integration testing on the Piccadilly line shortly after arrival. The first train to enter passenger service remains on schedule in 2025.
New platform stop markings are being installed at all stations along the Piccadilly line for the new trains, while work is underway to upgrade the high voltage supply at Northfields and Cockfosters to support increased power loads at the train maintenance depots.
Three new stabling and turning tracks at Northfields are almost complete, while at Cockfosters depot site preparation and preliminary works are underway for the new wheel lathe, and a contract has been awarded for building construction.
The first of two new cabin simulators is being commissioned, ready to begin train driver training, and installation is being finalised.
In January, 288 meters of track renewal in ballast (BTR) via Sudbury Town’s westbound platform was renewed.
Underground lines
On December 26, 2023, a train passed approximately 100 feet across the Shepherd’s Bush Market platform. The Four Lines Modernization program and associated technical team support ongoing research and liaise with Thales.
The signaling upgrade on the Finchley Road to Preston Road section of the Metropolitan Line was tested over the weekend of 13 to 14 April 2024, with further testing planned for July 2024. This section is expected to go live in early 2025 and will final section of signaling (Rayners Lane to Uxbridge) to go live in 2026.
The signaling upgrade between Stepney Green and Upminster, which is now live, should improve average journey times by 5-10% following next year’s timetable change.
In March 2024, 195 meters of track renewal was carried out between Kings Cross St Pancras and Farringdon and 189 meters between Gloucester Road and South Kensington.
Stations
Battersea Power Station
Work on installing escalators at the west entrance should begin by August 2024.
Cutty Sark
The three escalators have been renovated and put back into use.
East Ham station
The wall on the north side of the station will be rebuilt later this year once party wall agreements have been signed with the 28 properties bordering the station.
Elephant & Castle
The contract for the tunnels between the new station box and the existing Noordlijn platforms should be awarded in July.
The developer plans to deliver the station box, as agreed, no later than the first quarter of 2025/26, after which it will be fitted out by TfL.
North Acton station
Funding has been secured to cover the cost of concept designs for step-free access to the station.
Kentish Town station
Contractors completed maintenance work and installed both new escalators so electrical work could begin. The repair work on the platform tiles and the ceiling and floor of the ticket hall has started. The station will now reopen to the public in September 2024.
Knights Bridge
There are power capacity issues to meet the need for a secondary power supply for the new lifts and additional work is required to remove heat from the tunnels. These hinder step-free access to the station.
Country house park
The tactile paving installation work has been completed.
Marylebone station
The final Bostwick gate and paneling as part of the escalator replacement work is due to be completed in July 2024.
Northolt station
Funding has been approved to provide step-free access to Northolt station by 2026.
Paddington station
Installation of cabling, services and finishes for the Bakerloo line’s new ticket hall and step-free access areas continues, ahead of opening in late summer 2024
South Kensington
Design work is underway to provide step-free access to the underground lines, which will be implemented as part of the development on site. They are also exploring an option to include the Piccadilly line in the step-free access.
Stratford
The new entrance next to the Jubilee Line platforms, which was due to open in March, is now expected to be operational by the end of June 2024. The delay was due to unforeseen ground conditions and water intrusion.
A separate project is also underway with Network Rail to deliver a new customer lift linking the Jubilee line concourse to the Western Metro.
Surrey Quays
For the station upgrade, piling works on platform two have now been completed and installation of the drainage and platform superstructure is underway. They will then deploy Platform 1’s temporary secondary means of escape in August 2024 to support the installation of the overbridge connecting the two platforms.
West Ham
Work on the station’s new entrance, which links it to a housing development, was paused due to design and delivery issues, but is expected to resume later this year.
West Hampstead
Funding has been secured to cover the costs of concept designs for step-free access to the station.
Recently improved and much brighter LED lighting at Leicester Square (c) ianVisits station