Transport for London has outlined plans for a partial closure of the Piccadilly line from this weekend, affecting travel to and from Heathrow Airport.
The line will close between Hammersmith and Heathrow in the early hours of Saturday 10 February (meaning no Night Tube west of Hammersmith station), and then between Acton Town and Heathrow from the start of normal service on Saturday until the start of service on Thursday, February 15.
During the closure, TfL advises customers traveling to or from Heathrow to use the Elizabeth line, rail replacement bus services or local buses. The Heathrow Express will also remain open during the affected period.
TfL said the closure was necessary to replace points “on a difficult stretch of track where trains leave Northfields depot to enter service”.
He added that “the closure will take five days because it is not a homogeneous renovation, which means that once the first section is removed, the rest of the track in the area must be removed and replaced,” and said that renovation works would also be carried out. infrastructure at Heathrow stations during the closure “to minimize future disruption”.
The work is being carried out ahead of the introduction of new Piccadilly line trains in 2025, which will increase capacity by around 10 per cent and feature passable, air-conditioned carriages with improved accessibility.
TfL reveals details of new Piccadilly line trains
Commenting on the news, Richard Jones, head of asset performance at TfL, said:
“We thank customers in advance for their patience during this vital closure of the Piccadilly line. The track at Northfields needs to be replaced and doing so will make journeys smoother and more reliable, as well as allowing us to deliver as many of the improvements as possible made by the upgrade to the Piccadilly line.
“The Elizabeth Line will help customers get to Heathrow Airport during this closure, but we will also operate rail replacement buses in and around Hounslow. “Customers should check before traveling and allow extra time for their trips during this work.”
tfl.gov.uk
