Alstom completes London train modernization program

Alstom completed the modernization of 106 trains serving the Northern line, following a two-year upgrade program for London Underground (LU). Alstom has worked in partnership with LU to ensure a seamless transition and to maintain the daily service levels ‎of the Underground.

As part of the program, the teams at Alstom’s Morden and Golders Green Metro Traincare Centers have: replaced approximately six miles of linoleum in the fleet, which is roughly the distance between Buckingham Palace and the O2 Arena, polished 15,688 windows to remove graffiti, which is more panels of glass than in the Shard; and changed 27,500 seat backs, which is equivalent to a third of Wembley Stadium. The 106th and final train that has been upgraded, both inside and outside, including fitting wheelchair spaces and upgrading passenger information systems, has now re-entered service.

The mid-life refurbishing program included 3.7 million items replaced on the fleet, which represents about 35,000 components per train.

The Northern line carries up to a quarter of Tube passengers, around one million people per day Monday to Friday, traveling around nine million miles a year.