High Streets for All

TfL has ordered new trains for the Piccadilly Line, the Underground's 2nd oldest fleet dating from 1973, which will have air conditioning. These trains should start to enter service in 2025.

TfL would like to extend the order to include replacement of the Bakerloo Line fleet (dating from 1972) and the Central and Waterloo & City line fleets (dating from 1992/3). This would bring air conditioning to the Central, Waterloo & City and Bakerloo lines as well.

However, TfL is completely reliant on central government funding to extend this order so it is currently in the gift of government to allow TfL to make these investments.

The Northern and Jubilee Line fleets date from 1995/6. It's possible that future plans to increase capacity on the Northern Line would mean some of the current Jubilee Line fleet moving to the Northern Line with a new fleet of trains ordered for the Jubilee Line. Again, such a new fleet would also have air conditioning as standard. However, once again, this plan is completely unfunded and is reliant on central government funding and the upgrade/expansion of Camden Town station before this could happen.

Part of this will also be contingent on the potential demand and certainly the DfT will be reluctant to fund TfL projects if passenger numbers don't quickly return and; unless a clear business case and funding model can be made. If passengers return and revenues increase, then perhaps government could be convinced to invest.

Either way, this would also leave the Northern Line with a 1990s fleet without air conditioning which cannot be retrofitted to these trains. It is therefore likely that air conditioning will only come to the Northern Line once the current 1990s fleet are replaced by new trains. Unfortunately, that may not take place until the 2030s at the earliest.