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June 13 2016

Signalling installation to modernise the London Underground

The first step in installing signalling across four lines as part of a major scheme to modernise the London Underground has been completed, announces Transport for London.

Signalling installation has begun at Edgware Road and Hammersmith tube stations this week, with up-to-date signalling and control systems to be introduced to the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines as the plan to modernise the London Underground continues.

To realise the project and improve the tube transport network in the capital, 1,100 metro jobs and a further 60 apprenticeships will be supported.

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Signalling on the underground

The new signalling has been designed by Thales, a multinational company that builds electrical systems specifically for transport markets and who won the London Underground contract back in 2015.

Signalling is expected to be installed in sections across the four lines, equivalent to 40 per cent of the network, by 2021 and the same system has already been completed on the Northern and Jubilee lines where performance is already improving. Signalling installation has helped to make the service more reliable and reduce journey times on both these lines, furthermore the signalling work on the new lines should increase capacity on the London Underground by 33 per cent.

Andrew Pollins, London Underground’s managing director, adds: “This is a major step in delivering this vital upgrade for millions of our customers. The signalling system on these lines is some of the oldest in use anywhere in the world, with parts of it dating back to the 1930s.

“The use of this newer, more sophisticated signalling system will mean more frequent, more reliable and less crowded journeys and will help us meet rapidly growing customer demand.”

Benefits of modernising the London Underground

The next steps of modernising the tube, including the signalling launch at Edgware Road and Hammersmith this month, will make it possible for the service to run faster and more frequently. The millions of passengers who use the tube every day will benefit from reliable journeys on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.

The project, however, relies on a skilled workforce to deliver it effectively and within time and budget. Transport for London has said that over one thousand jobs and several apprenticeships will be either “sustained or created, both in London and across the UK” to ensure that modernisation work can be completed and the network remains a world-class example of urban transport.

Image Credit: Mike Quinn (geograph.org)

Find out about the employment opportunities in the sector by visiting our metro recruitment page.

 

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