New Trains and Signalling for London Underground

Chris Warren has been working with Metronet since 2001, initially to assist
with the bidding for the Infrastructure Companies and the subsequent
negotiation of contracts for the provision of new trains and signalling
systems for the Victoria Line and sub-surface lines.

These key contracts were negotiated with Bombardier Transportation
and are an essential element in Metronet’s strategy for the achievement
of capability performance improvements on the Victoria Line and
throughout the sub-surface lines.  

For the Victoria Line the contract with Bombardier will provide 47 new
8-car trains and a new ‘Distance To Go – Radio’ signalling system, delivering
a 14% improvement in the performance of the line. This is the first phase of the
£3.4 billion contract awarded by Metronet to supply 1,778 metro cars
and new signalling systems for the Victoria line and the sub-surface lines

Under the terms of these contracts the new trains and signalling will provide
London Underground with: -

An improvement in journey times;

An improvement in train ambience;

An improvement in reliability;

The delivery of London Underground’s
enhancement and refurbishment requirements.

These contracts also include for the handover of maintenance responsibility
for the existing fleets of Victoria and sub-surface lines trains and the
maintenance of the new trains on their introduction.