New walk through air conditioned train now operating from Hammersmith to Barking.
  • Roll out of more trains in Spring 2013
  • Trains will provide 17 per cent extra capacity

A new fully walk-through Tube train which allows better access for customers has started running between Hammersmith and Barking.

It is the first of 53 new trains that will eventually roll out on the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines later next year.

Trains on the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines are currently comprised of six carriages.

The new trains will be longer, providing 17 per cent extra capacity and relieving pressure on busy parts of the network.

Nigel Holness, Director of Operational Change and Upgrades, London Underground, said: 'This is great news for our customers in the east end of London. The trains are longer, walk-through and in the summer customers will be able to benefit from the air conditioning too.

'It is the first of 53 new trains that will operate on the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines and will start rolling out in earnest from Spring next year.'

In addition the trains will have automated visual displays and station announcements, plus CCTV, as well as dedicated wheelchair areas, wider doors and walkways, lower passenger alarms and a smaller gap between the train and platform.

The roll out of the first train along the complete route of the Hammersmith & City line also marks the completion of works at Hammersmith station and depot to accommodate the new longer trains.

This included extending the platforms and tracks and building a new ticket office and train crew depot.

Notes to Editors:

London Underground awarded Bombardier Transportation the contract to upgrade the signalling on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines in June 2011.The new signalling system, when complete, will mean customers can travel more quickly, and frequently on all of the Sub-Surface lines, which together make up 40 per cent of the Tube network and increase capacity. These improvements include:

  • 24 per cent more capacity on the District line by providing space for an extra 10,000 passengers an hour - increasing the line's capacity from 40,000 to 50,000 passengers an hour
  • 27 per cent more capacity on the Metropolitan line by providing space for an extra 9,500 more passengers an hour - increasing the line's capacity from 35,000 to 44,500 passengers an hour
  • 65 per cent more capacity on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines, delivered through new signalling, longer trains and recent improvements to service frequency. In total the upgrade will provide space for an extra 17,500 more passengers each hour - increasing the capacity from 26,000 to 43,500 passengers an hour.