§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what work(a) is currently being undertaken and (b) is planned to upgrade the London Underground Piccadilly Line; what new trains will be provided in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [65065]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonLondon Underground are mid-way through a project to refurbish the entire fleet of 87 Piccadilly line trains. Refurbishment of 48 trains is already complete and London Underground expect that refurbishment of the whole fleet will be completed by December 2000.
Although London Underground are not planning to procure any new trains in the next three years for use on the Piccadilly line, there are proposals to refurbish 15 ex-Jubilee line trains and bring these into service on 56W the Piccadilly line. These additional trains will make it possible to run a higher frequency 30 trains per hour (tph) service. London Underground expect that 4 ex-Jubilee line trains will be refurbished by December 2000 and refurbishment of 15 trains will be completed by December 2001.
There are also proposals for the construction of additional platforms at Oakwood and Cockfosters stations and improved access for trains at Cockfosters Depot. This project will provide improved train reversing facilities at the east end of the line in order to enable the introduction of the increased 30 tph service and improve service recovery times following disruptions. London Underground expect the works to start in June 1999 and to be completed by the end of 2001.