Why is TfL part-closing Piccadilly line?
TfL says the closure will allow “vital” upgrade works to points at Northfields, ahead of new trains being introduced on the line from 2025.
It says it will also allow for infrastructure work at Heathrow Airport stations to be completed.
The track in this area has some 1930s components, meaning it is time-consuming to replace, as it is not a like-for-like renewal.
This means that once the first section is removed, the rest of the track in the area must be removed and then replaced.
Piccadilly line to be part closed during half-term
TfL has announced that the Piccadilly line will be part-closed from Saturday until the end of Valentine’s Day. Here’s what’s happening:
– The Piccadilly line will be closed between Hammersmith and Heathrow Airport from 00:45 to 05:00 on Saturday 10 February, meaning there will be no Night Tube west of Hammersmith station.
– The closure will then change from start of normal service on Saturday, with no trains between Acton Town and Heathrow until start of service on Thursday 15 February.
Normal services resume to Gatwick
A bag on the line, which caused delays to and from Gatwick Airport, has been cleared, National Rail has said.
Services are now running normally, with the exception of the Gatwick Express, which is not running today due to an overtime ban by the Aslef union.
Bag on line blamed for Gatwick delays
A bag on the line has been blamed for the delays on the lines between Gatwick and East Croydon.
Some lines are set to reopen shortly, said Gatwick Express – which itself is not running services today due to the Aslef overtime ban.
A bag on the line near Gatwick Airport
Train fault at Clapham Junction blocks some lines to Waterloo
A train fault at Clapham Junction has blocked some lines towards Waterloo.
Trains may be delayed or revised, passengers are being told. It means services between Wimbledon and London Waterloo will not be able to call at Earlsfield, Clapham Junction and Vauxhall.
Passengers wishing to leave the train at these stations are being told to change at London Waterloo for a return service.
Line between East Croydon and Gatwick Airport blocked
Rail passengers hoping to get from Gatwick Airport face disruption this morning because of a train fault.
The fault on a train between Gatwick Airport and East Croydon means some lines are blocked.
Passengers are being advised that trains running between these station may be cancelled or delayed.
Minor delays between Victoria and Clapham
A fault with the signalling system at London Victoria means trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.
As a result, trains running between London Victoria and Clapham Junction may be delayed by up to 10 minutes, passengers are being warned.
The disruption is expected to continue until 10am.
Minor delays on Central line
As will be familiar to regular users of the Central line, the service is suffering from “minor” delays this morning due to a shortage of trains.
The line is suffering a chronic shortage of trains and it has been operating at times with barely half of the 78 trains required to run a peak service.
The trains have been out of action because the ageing motors on the trains, which date to 1992, are suffering catastrophic failures and have to be taken out of service to be replaced.
Some disruption after broken down train near Surbiton
Early morning delays to services on South Western Railway were caused by a broken down train between Byfleet and Surbiton.
The company said in an early morning update: “Until the issue with this engineering train is rectified all lines between West Byfleet and Surbiton are currently blocked.”
However, by 7.15am, the train appeared to have been moved, allowing services to resume normal service.
DLR could be extended under new proposals
Londoners are being invited to have their say on a proposed cross-river extension to the DLR, which could allow up to 30,000 new homes to be built.
A consultation has been launched by TfL has asked for feedback on the plan to extend the Docklands Light Railway to Thamesmead, with the potential for further extensions to Belvedere and beyond.
The scheme has been launched to connect Thamesmead with the rest of the city while allowing for a substantial number of new homes to be built.
Thamesmead currently has no Tube, DLR or railway connections to the rest of London, with buses providing the only means of public transport.
TfL said it had considered a number of possible routes – including by extending the London Overground from Barking Riverside, or by creating a new tram service – but that extending the DLR from Gallions Reach would be the most effective option.
