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[17 June 1996]
The first of a fleet of trains refurbished to the highest possible standard was launched into passenger service today by Steven Norris MP, the Minister for Transport in London.
Arriving at Northfields Station on the revamped train, Mr Norris said: "This is a train that is a pleasure to travel in, and shows that refurbishment represents excellent value for money. The new interior design with its multi-functional areas for luggage and passengers is ideally suited to both commuters and passengers with heavy luggage travelling to Heathrow."
The 87 trains will have a new seating layout allowing space for more passengers, emergency alarms which allow passengers to talk to the driver, interior dot-matrix information displays and full forced air ventilation. The cost of the refurbishment will be �80 million.
Bob Bayman, the Piccadilly Line General Manager, is delighted with the trains: "They are hardly recognisable in their present form and I understand why some people refer to them as �new� trains even though they have been in service for 20 years. As more are delivered, combined with the timetable improvements in late summer, travelling on the Piccadilly Line will set new standards of comfort and convenience for all."
The refurbishment is being carried out on behalf of London Underground by Bombardier Eurorail at Wakefield in Yorkshire. The design is by Warwick Design Consultancy Ltd.
Feature of the new trains:
- Large standbacks are available just inside the double doorways giving increased room for luggage or standing passengers.
- All cross seats have been replaced by longitudinal ones, which reduces seating by six but increases standing capacity by twenty per car.
- A number of �perch seats� have been installed at the end of the cars and in the luggage areas to compensate for the re-arranged conventional seating.
- Emergency alarms have been fitted which allow customers to talk to the driver.
- Interior visual displays give information which will provide information about stations and routes.
- The internal loudspeaker system has been greatly improved.
- Full forced-air ventilation will provide comfort on the hottest of days.
- Drivers have been provided with greatly improved cabs, which can be sealed to reduce noise level and have advanced air cooling.
- New impact resistant windscreens have been fitted to give protection to drivers.
- New built-in detrainment steps are built into the end doors, to allow safe evacuation in case of emergencies.
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