TfL Piccadilly line to close later this year as part of £2.9bn upgrade

The Piccadilly line is set to close later this year as part of a £2.9bn upgrade, which will see a fleet of new trains and an overall upgrade of the line.

With the existing trains approaching 50 years in use, Transport for London (TfL) has commissioned a fleet of 94 new trains with a capacity 10% greater than existing stock.

The first train is due to arrive in London this summer, ahead of TfL infrastructure testing and integration. The trains are expected to enter service in London in 2025.  

The mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who is also head of TfL has said there will be closures on the line later this year.

In response to a question at City Hall, he told the London Assembly: “In preparing for the new Piccadilly line trains there will be closures on the line for both infrastructure enhancements and testing the new trains. The dates of these closures are being agreed at the moment. An integrated customer communications plan is also being developed.”

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Piccadilly line upgrade

The new Piccadilly line trains are part of a £2.9bn investment to modernise the Piccadilly line, rolling out 94 brand new trains from 2025 onwards to help the line run more reliably, safely, inclusively and sustainably. 

The new trains will feature walk-through carriages, air-conditioning, wider all-double doorways to help customers get on and off more easily, enhanced digital display screens for customer information, on-train CCTV cameras for additional customer security and will, for the first time on a Deep Tube train, provide air conditioning. 

TfL says they will increase capacity by 10% and will also improve energy efficiency and accessibility.

The new trains will be rolled out in 2025, with an increase in the frequency of service expected to be in place by 2027.