Sadiq Khan: Driverless Piccadilly Line trains could be launched in 2023

Quizzed: GLA members fired questions at the London Mayor about the crisis-hit Piccadilly Line.
London Assembly
Francesca Gillett15 December 2016

A new roll-out of Piccadilly Line trains could be driverless and will arrive on the Tube in 2023, Sadiq Khan has said.

The Mayor was quizzed about the struggling line on Wednesday after weeks of chaos on the line which has left passengers furious.

The Piccadilly Line – which is London’s fourth busiest London Underground route – has been plagued by delays after poor weather and fallen leaves damaged the train wheels last month.

On Wednesday morning Mr Khan fielded fierce questions from fellow members of the Greater London Authority who pinned him down on when the new trains will be rolled out.

He said: “It’s clear the Piccadilly Line service recently has not been good enough and we must be committed to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Question time: The Mayor took questions on flooding, Southern Rail and Boris Johnson's water cannons.
London Assembly

“As you will be aware, a full review of this year’s events are being carried out into Transport for London’s preparation and recovery so we are better prepared next year.”

He said the new rolling stock will be built in 2019 and the new trains will be put on the line from 2023.

“That’s as fast as I can do,” Mr Khan said.

When asked whether the new trains could be driverless, Mr Khan refused to rule it out and said it “would be unwise” to invest in trains which weren’t “future-proof”.

The current Piccadilly Line trains were built in the 1970s and have not been replaced.

He said an engineering firm have launched an independent investigation into the problems which besieged the line this year.

The Mayor also took questions on what would be done following the recent bouts of flooding and the crisis-hit Southern Rail.

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