The first new Piccadilly line train has arrived in the capital before the beginning of a comprehensive testing programme which will lead to the eventual roll out of all 94 nine-car trains which are scheduled to enter service by the end of 2025.

Constructed for TfL by Siemens Mobility as part of the Piccadilly Line Upgrade, the new trains will replace the current fleet which have been in service for nearly half a century.

Before these trains can enter service a series of closures to carry out crucial upgrades to tracks and platforms, to ensure the new trains can fit and are compatible with some of the oldest infrastructure on one of London‘s deepest underground Lines.

This will boost the existing capacity by about 10%, and revolutionize travel for countless passengers on one of London Underground’s most used lines.

The prototype train that has recently arrived in London was assembled at Siemens Mobility’s Vienna facility and has undergone a year of trials on the Wildenrath test track in Germany.

Initial tests of this new train on the Piccadilly Line will occur overnight during engineering hours and planned line closures.

Once this is complete the train will be allowed to run empty during the day alongside regular passenger services, before more new trains arrive on the network and undergo the same trials

The entire fleet of new Piccadilly line trains are predicted to be operational by the end of 2027.

These trains are also helping to bolster the British economy and its manufacturing capabilities by providing jobs to residents of East Yorkshire where 80% of the fleet is being constructed at Siemens Mobility’s new factory in Goole.

“It’s an exciting moment for London as testing begins on the new Piccadilly line trains.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan