Metronet Rail, one of the companies responsible for the maintenance and upgrade of the London Underground, today unveiled their next generation of train carriages which are due to run on the Victoria line from 2009.
A replica carriage has been set up in a marquee at Euston Square Gardens and will be open to the public from 21 July to 4 August.
Launching the market research initiative Stephen Hall, Chief Programmes Officer for Metronet, said: “From 2009 we will begin to introduce a bigger fleet of 47 new larger, faster trains that will provide customers with a more comfortable journey experience with improved accessibility, safety and security features.
The new fleet is part of the Victoria line Upgrade which will also deliver a new signalling and control system, renewed track, and a reinforced power system. This upgrade, on which we are spending in excess of three-quarters of a billion pounds, is one of the largest investment projects on the London Underground (LU) network”.
47 new eight-car trains will be built by Bombardier Transportation in Derby which are promised to be more reliable and energy-efficient power equipment and also deliver improved accessibility, particularly for people with mobility impairments.
Security is an integral part of the new design which includes CCTV cameras recording digital-quality images in each car and passenger emergency alarms allowing two-way communication with the driver.