WIREDGOV

Circle line follows Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines with new air-conditioned trains.

• Circle and Hammersmith & City trains go from six to seven carriages

New fully walk-through Tube trains, which allow better access for customers, are being rolled out on the Circle line from today as part of the introduction of 53 new trains on both the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines.
 
In addition to air conditioning, the new trains will have automated visual displays and station announcements, as well as CCTV, dedicated wheelchair areas, wider doors and walkways and lower level, easier to reach passenger alarms.

New trains are longer

With seven carriages the new trains are longer than previous rolling stock on the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines, providing 17 per cent extra capacity and helping to relieve pressure on busy parts of the Tube network.

Phil Hufton, London Underground's Chief Operating Officer, said: 'As part of our continued drive to improve our passengers' experience of travelling on the Tube, we're delighted to be rolling out these new air-conditioned, high-specification trains.

'Customers travelling on the Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines are already enjoying the benefits that these longer trains provide and so we're really pleased that they're also being extended to our Circle line customers.'
 
By the end of 2016 there will be a total of 191 walk-through, air-conditioned trains on 40 per cent of the Tube network - running on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.

   Notes to editors:  

• There will be a total of 191 trains operating on the Tube network by the end of 2016
• Fifty-eight Metropolitan line trains introduced summer 2010 completed in 2012
• Fifty-three Circle and Hammersmith & City (H&C) line trains. Roll out on the H&C commenced in December 2012 and Circle in September 2013. The roll-out is expected to be fully complete early next year
• Eighty District line trains to be rolled out from early next year
• The new trains are being built by Bombardier Transportation in Derby
• London Underground also awarded Bombardier Transportation the contract to upgrade the signalling on the Circle, District, H&C and Metropolitan lines in June 2011. The new signalling system, when complete, will mean customers can travel more quickly, and frequently on all of the Sub-Surface lines, which together make up 40 per cent of the Tube network and increase capacity. These improvements include:
  • Twenty-four per cent more capacity on the District line by providing space for an extra 10,000 passengers an hour - increasing the line's capacity from 40,000 to 50,000 passengers an hour
  • Twenty-seven per cent more capacity on the Metropolitan line by providing space for an extra 9,500 more passengers an hour - increasing the line's capacity from 35,000 to 44,500 passengers an hour
  • Sixty-five per cent more capacity on the Circle and H&C lines, delivered through new signalling, longer trains and recent improvements to service frequency. In total the upgrade will provide space for an extra 17,500 passengers each hour - increasing the capacity from 26,000 to 43,500 passengers an hourAs part of our continued drive to improve our passengers' experience of travelling on the Tube, we're delighted to be rolling out these new air-conditioned, high-specification trains.