London Underground has signed a 115m contract enabling the Airwave radio network used by police and the emergency services to ‘piggy back’ on the Tube’s new Connect digital radio system.
The deal ensures officers from the Met and City of London Police will have Airwave radio coverage across the entire tube network. Currently only British Transport Police (BTP), who have responsibility for policing on the Tube network have radios which work underground.
At present officers from the two forces must be accompanied by a BTP officer so they can remain in contact with the surface.
The Connect system is currently being rolled out across the Tube network with the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and East London Lines already completed. The ability to use the Airwave system is expected to be available on all Underground lines in 2008.
Tim O’Toole, LU Managing Director, said the contract meant “London Underground is meeting its commitments to deliver a new digital radio system for the Tube which can also be accessed by the emergency services.”
