Transport for LondonPiccadilly line
Piccadilly line Manager Phil O'Hare
You may have noticed we've been improving the Piccadilly line over the past few weekends.
This weekend we're cracking on by replacing hundreds of metres of track.
It will help give you a smoother ride, and enable us to keep trains running at top speed.
We appreciate it may be disruptive, but it's all part of our plan to give you a better Tube.
What's going on?
The Piccadilly line will be one of the last lines to be upgraded.
Although work has yet to begin, planning for this major engineering project has already started. And once the upgrade is underway, you'll notice changes like new trains and faster, more reliable journeys.
We'd love to start work sooner, but with 11 lines to upgrade, we need to plan the work so we keep disruptions to a minimum. In other words, we can't do it all at once.
In the meantime, we may need to close parts of the line from time to time to keep track and tunnels in good condition.
We're also making improvements to stations along the line, for example:
- Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 station was recently upgraded with new lifts, additional gates and a modernised ticket office
- The upgrade of Green Park station has provided a new ramped walkway into the park, an enlarged entrance on Piccadilly and step-free access to all lines
Faster, smoother journeys
As well as new trains, we'll be working on a new signalling system and control centre which will help make travelling on the line faster and more reliable. Average journey times will be reduced by a fifth, and your trains will run more regularly.
Moving more trains more quickly means extra capacity - or room - on the line. That's good news because as London keeps growing there'll be more people using the Tube.
Following the acquisition of Tube Lines by TfL in 2010, we're now reviewing the upgrade to determine the best way of delivering it.
Green Park station
The Green Park station upgrade is now complete. Work has been completed to create step-free access to all platforms, and between all lines serving the station. Platform humps have been installed providing level access with trains for all three lines.
Another big change is the new, ramped station entrance, providing direct access from Green Park.
- Learn more about the Green Park station upgrade
Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3
As part of the Tube upgrade plan and in partnership with BAA Heathrow, extensive improvements to Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 station are now complete.
New lifts to platforms provide step-free access and platform 'humps' now offer level-access when boarding trains.
The upgrade also includes a modernised ticket office, additional gates, new signage and Help Points - all designed to help make your journey a smooth one.
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 with more than 100,000 people passing 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.
Russell Square
We are completely refurbishing the three lifts at Russell Square station, one at a time, to improve their reliability. While this work takes place queues to enter and exit the station are likely, especially at busy times.
You can avoid queuing by using Holborn station instead. This is a short walk away and also close to many of the hotels, amenities and attractions in the area.
- Visit Journey Planner or use the maps at Holborn station to plan your route.
When will the work be finished?
Key improvements
- Faster, more reliable journeys
- Improved accessibility
- New trains
- Major station upgrades
- See also
- About London Underground
- Crossrail
Check if your Tube line is affected by improvement works
