Transport for LondonVictoria line
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We want to let you know what we're doing to your line and how it will help you.
Here, your line manager will be giving you updates about disruptions or closures, and tell you about the improvements you'll see when we're finished.
You can also hear from the men in charge of the overall plan to upgrade the Tube, and get answers to some of the common questions we get asked.
What's going on?
If you travel on the Victoria line, one of the most obvious changes you'll have noticed is that all trains are now new. We're also upgrading the line's track and signalling system, which will mean faster, smoother, more reliable journeys.
More trains, more often
We're in the final stages of our upgrade of the Victoria line's signalling system. We finished installing a new, state-of-the-art system in 2009 and, since then, we've been running the old and new systems alongside each other.
The final stage of the upgrade involves dismantling the old system, which was installed when the line opened in 1968.
We know signalling is not something you necessarily take notice of, but the new system will enable us to run more trains, more often and with fewer failures. Combined with our new trains, which we can run more quickly and closer together, it'll mean more room - or capacity - on the line.
That's good news because as London continues to grow, so will the number of Victoria line passengers. Once work is complete in 2012 - before the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games - we'll start running an extra two trains per hour at peak times (in addition to the current 28).
Eventually we'll be adding even more trains - up to 33 trains an hour at peak times. This means we'll be able to carry about 10,000 more passengers an hour.
Comfortable ride
If you've travelled on our new trains, you'll have noticed they are bigger and more comfortable as they have more seats, wider aisles and doors, and higher ceilings.
They also have dedicated spaces for wheelchairs and security features like CCTV in every carriage and push-button emergency alarms connecting directly to the driver.
In addition, the new trains are equipped with regenerative breaking technology, which means energy is returned to the rails to be used by other trains, rather than adding to heat in the tunnels.
More accessible
Platform humps have now been installed at all stations on the Victoria line (except Pimlico). These provide level access with the trains, meaning easier journeys for customers with mobility impairments, luggage or pushchairs.
Green Park station
Green Park is another station where you'll notice a lot going on. By the time the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are here, the work we're doing will have changed the way the station and the area around it are used.
There may be some disruption while we carry out the upgrade, but we're doing our best to keep this to a minimum.
Work to create step-free access to all platforms, and between all lines serving the station, has already been completed. By May 2012, the installation of platform humps will also provide level access with trains for all three lines.
Another big change is the new, ramped station entrance, providing direct access from Green Park.
There's further work to be done, so please bear with us. We'll try to keep disruptions to a minimum.
King's Cross St. Pancras
In 2010, we completed a massive redevelopment of King's Cross St. Pancras that quadrupled the size of this key station.
It already sees more passengers a year than Heathrow Airport, and by the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, more than 100,000 people will pass through the station at peak times every day.
King's Cross St. Pancras is now modern and spacious, has step-free access to all lines, and is less congested thanks to new ways to enter and exit the station.
Victoria station
If you've been to Victoria station lately, you may have noticed that it's busier than usual as we're doing a great deal of work at the station.
It's a really exciting project that'll mean fewer delays, less congestion, step-free access and quicker journeys in and out of the station.
There's a lot to be done before we finish work in 2018, so please bear with us.
We'll try to keep disruptions to a minimum.
When will the work be finished?
Key improvements
- New trains
- Capacity increased by 21%
- More frequent trains
- Faster journeys
- Major station upgrades
- See also
- About London Underground
- Crossrail
Check if your Tube line is affected by upgrade works
