| Heathrow passengers to face severe disruption as major Tube closures begin this week and Piccadilly line closures London Underground passengers travelling to Heathrow this week are being warned of major disruption due to closures. From Thursday, July 30 until Sunday, August 2 the Piccadilly line will close between Acton Town and Heathrow, and between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge while engineers test new trains being introduced later this year. The section between Acton Town and Cockfosters is open on Thursday, but will then shut between Friday and Monday, August 3 meaning the entire line is out of action between Friday and Sunday. These closures also affect Night Tube services. Transport for London said the complex upgrade and testing programme is essential to ensure the line is ready for the first new trains to enter service in December. In May, transport bosses confirmed engineers had already carried out weight-loading testing to simulate the carriages being full with passengers, and that 119 platforms had been prepared to accommodate the new trains. Londoners thankfully have other options such as the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express to get to and from the airport, but the Piccadilly line closure will affect passengers needing to travel overnight on Friday and Saturday. The N9 bus from Heathrow to Piccadilly Circus will be the best option for many due to the closure. Other alternatives include National Express and FlixBus coaches or taking a taxi. The upcoming closure is the longest planned for this summer but there are two midweek closures next month which will affect commuter. The stretch between Cockfosters and Uxbridge will shut between Tuesday, August 18 and Thursday, August 20 and the following week from Tuesday, August 25 until Thursday, August 27. TfL has confirmed the new trains being introduced between December and June next year will feature walk-through carriages, wider doorways, onboard digital display screens and CCTV. Each train will also have 10 per cent extra capacity, while the increased fleet size will allow frequency to increase from 24 to 27 trains per hour. Stuart Harvey, TfL’s chief capital officer, said: “I’d like to thank our customers for their patience while we carry out these essential upgrades to the Piccadilly line and rigorously test the new trains which will transform journeys for many decades to come. Introducing a new fleet of trains is a huge engineering and logistical feat which inevitably requires upgrades and intensive testing. “Although much of the hard work goes on behind the scenes, there are times when we need to close sections of the railway to ensure that these pioneering new trains can operate effectively and interact correctly with a wide range of complex infrastructure. “We are very confident that once this intensive period of upgrades and testing is completed, and the new trains start to enter service, our customers will reap the benefits of moving around the capital on these game-changing new trains.” |
Ickenham Residents' Association 