§ Mr. OttawayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the difficulties which are delaying the introduction of new trains into service on the Northern Line, stating the date when each one is expected to be resolved. [60890]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThis information is not available in the form requested. As I said in my answer to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Sir S. Chapman) of 17 November 1998,Official Report, columns 744–45, the delivery of new trains was delayed by more than a year. This was due to design changes specified by London Underground and production problems at ALSTOM' s train-building plant.
There have been a number of other problems including the computer software on trains, a delay in delivering the train simulator (and subsequent delays to driver training) and delays in proving that all train systems, such as the CCTV link to train drivers, are operationally satisfactory and reliable. In testing and commissioning new trains, snagging problems arise on each train and are addressed on an on-going basis.
ALSTOM and London Underground are working together to introduce the trains at as fast a rate as possible, and London Underground expects that a full Northern Line service will be provided with new trains by early autumn 1999.