Transport for London Technology Roadmap: A Strategic Overview of Investment to 2025 and Beyond

Transport for London (TfL) has disclosed its comprehensive strategic plan for the technological overhaul of the capital’s transport network. The document, titled Technology Roadmap 2025, was released into the public domain following a Freedom of Information request (Reference: FOI-2883-2526) made by another individual.

The roadmap details a multi-year investment strategy designed to align with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, specifically the objective for 80 per cent of all trips in London to be made by foot, cycle, or public transport by 2041. The plan sets out a timeline for critical infrastructure upgrades and the implementation of advanced systems to tackle fare evasion and improve operational efficiency.

Network Rail’s vision for the greener network and new overhead wires for Southend Victoria Line

Here’s some railway news from Network rail because there isn’t much bus news to report on.

From Network Rail

We own, operate and develop 20,000 miles of track across Britain and that’s just the start. With such far-reaching infrastructure, we have a responsibility to limit our impact on the environment as best we can.

We’ve made significant progress in sustainability over the past year, diverting 94% of our waste from landfill.

New technology upgrades for Britain’s railway network

The Department of Transport have announced new signalling upgrades to Britain’s railway system to improve services and reduce disruptions.

From Department for Transport

Trains will become faster, more frequent, more punctual and safer through the introduction of new digital technology on the rail network.

Network Rail infrastructure renewals during May Bank Holidays

As we are in May, Network Rail will be renewing signals and railway infrastructure during the May Bank Holidays.

From Network Rail

When track is ‘life-expired’ and maintenance is too expensive or ineffective, we come up with solutions to refurbish or renew it. These major projects are part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, and we carry them out at weekends or over bank holidays to minimise disruption.

Automatic trains enabled for the Thameslink Core

Automatic Train Operation (ATO) is now starting to be used for the main core section of the Thameslink, which serves the Central London stations.

From Network Rail

Passengers have ridden the UK’s first self-drive mainline train in a major milestone for the rail industry, delivered by the Thameslink Programme.

On Monday 26 March 2018 the 09.46 service from Peterborough to Horsham, one of the new routes that will be opened up by the industry’s biggest timetable change for a generation in May, ran under automatic train operation (ATO) between St Pancras International and London Blackfriars.

Successful tests for the new London Underground Sub Surface Lines signalling system

TfL has announced that testing the new signalling system to upgrade the Sub Surface Lines has been successful.

From TfL Press release

Transport for London (TfL) this weekend expanded testing of the new, modern Tube signalling system, which is set to transform the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines, to its largest area yet. The new system was successfully tested from Hammersmith through to Euston Square and Paddington, with the work involving the complex Baker Street junction - the first such junction to be tested with the state-of-the-art Thales communications-based train control (CBTC) system.

TfL confirms it will enable step-free access for South Kensington Tube station

TfL have announced the plans to upgrade South Kensington Tube station; they have confirmed they will enable step-free access.

From TfL press release

Development of land around the station will deliver step-free access to District and Circle line, unlocking millions of journeys.

Improvements are coming for the London Underground Sub-Surface Lines

The sub-surface Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines are set to have a new signalling system in order to improve reliability and services.

From TfL press release

Reliability and customer information on sections of Circle and Hammersmith & City lines to improve from next year.

· New system will mean quicker, more frequent services on sub-surface lines from 2021

· 40% of Tube to benefit from huge improvements by 2023

· The transformation of London Underground's sub-surface lines has taken a significant step forward, with multiple test trains running on the brand new signalling system for the first time in London.

Two Rail Adhesion Trains for Piccadilly Line

To reduce delays and disruptions on the Piccadilly Line, TfL has converted two 1973 stock trains to Rail Adhesion Trains (RATs) to tackle wheel flats.

From TfL press release

New traction motors for the Central Line trains

TfL has awarded Bombardier the contract to supply new motors and traction control equipment for the 1992 rolling stock trains for the London Underground Central Line.

From Bombardier

Bolina Road in Lewisham re-opened after a major transformation by Network Rail

Network Rail aren’t just replacing the railway infrastructure as part of the Thameslink Programme, they’ve also improved parts of the street surfacing.

New Underground ticket hall and entrance opens at Victoria Station

At last! A new ticket hall and entrance has opened at Victoria Station. A long wait tends to go very quick!

From TFL Press release

Journeys through Victoria Underground station are set to become easier as a new North ticket hall, a key part of the £700m project to upgrade Victoria Tube station, has opened. A new entrance on Victoria Street, at the junction of Bressenden Place, near Cardinal Place, is now open and leads to the ticket hall and Victoria line. ‎The entrance means that customers can now easily exit the station onto Victoria Street without having to cross the series of busy road junctions outside the station.

Roundup of London Transport news for 21st March

Instead of reporting the news in separate articles I've decided to group them together where possible, so there will be various news items and transport stories in a larger article from now on. Your feedback on this will be greatly appreciated in the comment section.

Full steam ahead for Crossrail 2

 

Crossrail 2 received a huge boost today, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced funding in the Budget allowing Transport for London (TfL) and Network Rail to forge ahead with full scale technical development of the railway. This will enable construction to start in the early 2020s, which would allow the railway to be operational by 2033.

Upgrades for Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines

Recently, London Underground announced that engineering works are to take place on the Piccadilly Line on the 5th and 6th March and the Metropolitan Line on the 16th May 2016.

From TFL Press Release

TfL today advised customers planning to use the Piccadilly line this weekend to expect longer journeys, due to planned upgrade work.

To improve the reliability of the Piccadilly and District lines London Underground (LU) is carrying out essential planned work this weekend to replace 700m of track at Turnham Green and renew a set of signalling points at Acton Town.

Shepherd’s Bush London Overground station is upgraded

The £1.35 million upgrade for Shepherd’s Bush Overground station contains a new entrance and a new pedestrian footbridge which makes it quicker for commuters to enter to another platform and new ticket machines.

From TFL’s press release:

London Overground customers using Shepherd's Bush station now have a new second entrance and a new footbridge, which will make their journeys easier and more convenient.

Central Line’s 1992 Stock trains to be refurbished

"91061-Epping-20090511" by Janderk1968 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Rail and Underground Panel of the TfL board is planning to refurbish the Central Line's 1992 Tube stock trains.