The Piccadilly line is set for months of disruption ahead of the introduction of new trains.

The planned closures mean that no trains will run on a section of the line for more than two weeks this summer.

TfL has said that the 16-day track closure from Wood Green to Cockfosters and Rayners Lane to Uxbridge is needed ahead of the introduction of new trains on the line next year.

Track and platform upgrades will take place from August 17 to September 1, meaning no services will run between these stations over this period.

There will be a reduced service on some other parts of the Piccadilly line.

Nine weekends of closures on different parts of the line, the first of which took place last Saturday and Sunday (July 20 to 21), have also been scheduled.

The first of 94 new trains, boasting walk-through carriages, digital display screens for customer information, and air-conditioning, will start running on the Piccadilly line next year.

The trains, around 75 of which are being built by Siemens in Yorkshire, will also boost the line’s capacity by an estimated 10%.

Work due to be carried out this summer includes renewing track, points and crossings in the Arnos Grove area.

Cockfosters station and depot, and the Arnos Grove train sidings will also be upgraded during this time.

Stuart Harvey, chief capital officer at TfL, said: “I’d like to thank our customers for their patience while we carry out these essential upgrades to the Piccadilly line.”

He added: “Introducing a new fleet of trains is a huge engineering and logistical feat.

“Although much of the hard work goes on behind the scenes, there are times when we need to close sections of the railway to ensure that all existing infrastructure is compatible with the new trains.

“Closures of this type are scheduled to take place, where possible, in school holidays when demand on our network is significantly reduced.” 

Upcoming weekend closures

  • July 27-28 – King’s Cross St Pancras to Cockfosters
  • August 3-4 – King’s Cross St Pancras to Cockfosters
  • September 14-15 – King’s Cross St Pancras to Northfields and Rayners Lane
  • September 21-22 – Acton Town to Uxbridge
  • October 19-20 – Acton Town to Rayners Lane
  • November 23-24 – King’s Cross St Pancras to Hammersmith
  • November 30-December 1 – King’s Cross St Pancras to Cockfosters
  • December 7-8 – Acton Town to Rayners Lane