Ahead of the new set of Piccadilly line trains that are due to arrive in London, parts of the line are set to close later this summer to carry out essential preparation.
TfL announced these plans earlier in the year, and has now confirmed the timing to be 16 days of part-closures between August 17 and September 1. This will affect the section of the line between Wood Green and Cockfosters; as well as meaning that stations between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge will close. Trains in the northern branch of the line will start and terminate at Wood Green, and the full service is due to resume on September 2.
The new trains are due to be tested later in the year after what will be a £2.9 billion upgrade to the line – and we can expect to see the first of the 94-strong fleet in service next year.
Demand on the Tube is said to be slightly lower at this time of year, with the school holidays meaning plenty of Londoners escape from the city for a while with their family. However, the closures will still likely result in some increased gaps between servicing and busier services than normal as the open sections of the line, and indeed other lines, make up for the lack of service in the affected areas.
A reduced service to Heathrow Terminal 4 is also being implemented, with a train running every 15-20 minutes, and passengers have been advised to use the Elizabeth line on their way to this airport where possible.
TfL has also announced that there will be some part-closures on the line in the build-up to the August 17 work, which will involve the closure of the line between King’s Cross and Cockfosters on July 27-28 and August 3-4. Once the works in August are complete, there will also be part-closures on September 14-15, with no trains running between King’s Cross and Northfields or Rayners Lane. There are also due to be part-closures on the line on weekends in October, November, and December of this year.
Read about the closures via TfL here.