London Underground passengers travelling to Heathrow face major disruption from Thursday, July 30 to Sunday, August 2, as the Piccadilly line closes between Acton Town and Heathrow, and between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge for new train testing. The entire line will be out of action between Friday and Sunday, affecting Night Tube services.
Closure details
On Thursday, July 30, the section between Acton Town and Cockfosters remains open, but from Friday to Monday, August 3, the whole line shuts. Transport for London (TfL) said the upgrade and testing programme is essential to prepare for the first new trains entering service in December. Engineers have already completed weight-loading testing to simulate full carriages, and 119 platforms have been prepared.
Alternative routes
Passengers can use the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express during the day, but overnight on Friday and Saturday, the N9 bus from Heathrow to Piccadilly Circus is the best option. Other alternatives include National Express and FlixBus coaches or taxis.
Further closures in August
Two midweek closures next month will affect commuters: the stretch between Cockfosters and Uxbridge will shut from Tuesday, August 18 to Thursday, August 20, and again from Tuesday, August 25 to Thursday, August 27.
New trains features
The new trains, introduced between December and June 2027, will feature walk-through carriages, wider doorways, onboard digital display screens, and CCTV. Each train will have 10 per cent extra capacity, and frequency will increase from 24 to 27 trains per hour.
Stuart Harvey, TfL's chief capital officer, said: 'I'd like to thank our customers for their patience while we carry out these essential upgrades to the Piccadilly line and rigorously test the new trains which will transform journeys for many decades to come. Introducing a new fleet of trains is a huge engineering and logistical feat which inevitably requires upgrades and intensive testing. 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 these pioneering new trains can operate effectively and interact correctly with a wide range of complex infrastructure. We are very confident that once this intensive period of upgrades and testing is completed, and the new trains start to enter service, our customers will reap the benefits of moving around the capital on these game-changing new trains.'
