Latest news with #StuartHarvey
ITV News
06-08-2025
- Business
- ITV News
New air conditioned Piccadilly train tested deep below London after delayed launch
Engineers have successfully tested a new air conditioned Tube train in tunnels deep beneath London after its launch was postponed for up to a year. Technical problems identified on a prototype meant there was a risk the state of the art Piccadilly Line trains could be damaged unless they were modified. The set back meant Transport for London was forced to delay crucial trials and abandon its plan to introduce the new trains into public service during 2025. TfL has released a video of a new train on a test run between Northfields and Hyde Park corner during a closure of the Piccadilly Line last weekend. Prolific fare evaders targeted in major crackdown on London Underground Stuart Harvey, TfL's chief capital officer said: 'We've now started a rigorous programme of testing the new Piccadilly line trains with London Underground's infrastructure and systems.' The technical problems were believed to involve the trains' air conditioning units and 'clearances' between the train and track equipment. The £2.9bn project will see 94 new trains boasting walk-through carriages, wider doorways and air conditioning. They are due to replace trains which entered service in 1975. Mr Harvey added: . 'The new trains, which will transform journeys for millions of customers on one of the Underground's busiest lines, are planned to start operating in the second half of 2026.'
BBC News
22-07-2025
- BBC News
Docklands Light Railway timetable reduced due to new train delays
A reduced Docklands Light Railway (DLR) timetable has been introduced following a delay to trains that were due to be introduced in April will be no Beckton to Canning Town/Stratford International services and trains between Stratford and Lewisham will not run between 06:30 BST and 10:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00.A fifth of the DLR's 90 trains, some of which have been operating since the early 1990s, are being retired this summer. By the end of next year, there should be 54 new, air-conditioned, Harvey, Transport for London's chief capital officer, said: "We need to begin retiring some of the oldest trains, meaning some short-term timetable changes are required." He added: "We apologise for this inconvenience to customers but they are necessary to ensure we can maintain the safest most reliable service."Services between Canary Wharf and Stratford will run every five minutes at peak times and every six and a half minutes off-peak, TfL said. Bank to Lewisham services will run as normal but customers will need to change at Canary Wharf to continue their hopes to introduce the 54 new trains, which will increase capacity by 50% and replace the oldest 33 in its fleet by the end of Transport for London commissioner's report for June also stated it was "rectifying the signalling issues" discovered during testing last year.
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Introduction of new air-conditioned tube trains delayed
The introduction of new Piccadilly line trains has been delayed, with the first trains now expected to enter service in the second half of 2026, pushed back from an initial target of late 2025. Transport for London (TfL) attributes the delay to the complex nature of integrating the modern fleet with the 120-year-old Tube network, citing engineering challenges. The new trains will offer significant upgrades, including 10 per cent more capacity, wider double doorways, air conditioning, real-time digital displays, and onboard CCTV. These state-of-the-art trains are designed to be lighter and more energy-efficient, consuming 20 per cent less energy than existing models. TfL's Chief Capital Officer, Stuart Harvey, expressed regret over the delay but emphasized the critical need to ensure safety and top condition before the trains begin service.
Time Out
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time Out
Major timetable changes are coming to London's DLR next month – before new trains are introduced later this year
Regular users of the DLR, listen up. The automated east London transport network is changing its timetable this summer, with TfL cutting back on services before it introduces the network's much-anticipated (and much-delayed) new trains. The changes are temporary and apparently intended to 'ensure a reliable service can be maintained across the entire DLR network'. TfL says the reduced timetable is designed to coincide with the start of the school summer holidays (when the service is usually quieter) and that it focuses on parts of the network where demand is typically lower. The DLR's new trains were announced back in June 2023, with initial designs showing off vehicles with fancy stuff like air-conditioning and USB charging ports. The vehicles – which, compared to the current fleet, are turquoise, more reliable and 10 percent more spacious – were supposed to be in operation back at the end of 2024, then they were delayed indefinitely. TfL now says the first of the DLR's 54 new trains will begin coming into service this year. Here's what you need to know about the DLR's new timetable. Beckton to Canning Town/Stratford International – no services (though Tower Gateway to Beckton will run) Stratford and Lewisham – no services in peak hours (6.30am-10am and 4pm-7.30pm). If required, customers should change at Canary Wharf. Services between Canary Wharf and Stratford will run every five minutes in peak times and every six and a half minutes off peak. Bank to Lewisham services will continue to run as normal. The new timetable will begin on July 21 and the full timetable will be reintroduced once enough trains are back in service. Commenting on the new timetable, TfL's chief capital officer Stuart Harvey said: 'The testing of the new DLR trains is progressing well and customers will start to be able to use these modern trains later this year. The new trains will ensure a more frequent and reliable service across the network and support growth in the Docklands and beyond. 'We need to begin retiring some of the oldest trains, meaning some short-term timetable changes are required. We apologise for this inconvenience to customers, but they are necessary to ensure we can maintain the safest most reliable service.'
Metro
22-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
Piccadilly line's new air conditioned trains delayed while London faces heatwave
The launch of the new, air-conditioned Piccadilly line Tube trains has been pushed back by a year. Londoners have been at the grips of a heatwave, with many facing an unbearably hot commute on the London Underground as temperatures reached 33°C. Only a handful of Tube lines currently have a cooling system, and new Piccadilly line carriages will be the sixth route with air conditioning once they launch. The new Piccadilly line trains were due to be up and running by the end of 2025, but now this has been pushed back into next year, TfL revealed. Transport for London had initially said the fleet of 94 new deep-level trains with 10% more capacity and walk-through carriages would be ready this year. The 'pioneering' train is the first deep level Tube train with air conditioning in London, with the system placed under the train to save space. However, after the novel trains were delivered and assessed by engineers, they found testing to get them ready for integration and passenger service will be 'more complex than expected,' TfL warned. Stuart Harvey, TfL's chief capital officer, said: 'We're proud and excited that these innovative new trains on the Piccadilly line will have a transformative effect for London. 'This hugely complex project will boost capacity and make journeys more accessible and more comfortable for millions of people. Here are some of the features found on the new carriages. Walk-through carriages Air-conditioning Wider all-double doorways Enhanced customer information digital display screens Improved step-free access from/onto the platform On-train CCTV 'This is an ambitious project with new 21st century trains providing engineering challenges in both building and introduction into service on a 20th century railway and it is critical that we ensure that safety comes first and that the trains are in top condition when they begin to service London. 'It will obviously be disappointing for customers that they will have to wait a bit longer for the new trains, and I regret that. 'But I would like to assure Londoners and visitors to our city that we are working extremely closely with Siemens to ensure that the new trains can be introduced as soon as possible in the second half of next year.' More Trending Sambit Banerjee, the joint CEO of Siemens Mobility, said: 'We're sorry we can't have our innovative trains running for passengers even sooner but, once they're in service, the technology on these new trains will bring smoother, greener and more comfortable journeys for Londoners for the next 30 or more years.' The Piccadilly line fleet has been serving Londoners since 1973, but they are in need of a revamp as passenger numbers and needs have grown. Once the 86 trains are phased out, the line will have 27 trains every hour instead of the previous, meaning one train every 135 seconds at peak times. Some of the new carriages were vandalised after they were delivered to the depot last year, months before they could even enter service. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: One of London Underground's top lines is running vintage 1930s trains this summer MORE: Former ITV presenter Selina Scott viciously attacked by gang in broad daylight MORE: Windrush activists rally government to save Notting Hill carnival
