“Next generation London Underground trains will be driverless. Automation is going to come. This train will allow us to do that,” announced Boris Johnson, Mayor of London on the press briefing for New Tubes for London which took place on 9 October 2014.
“The New Tube marks a significant step forward in giving Londoners and visitors the accessible and modern transport service that they expect and deserve”. He also explained that the first trains will have drivers, but these will be phased and the trains will be automated out by the middle of the 2020s.
London is getting ready to welcome new Tube trains for the next 40 years. For the first time last week, Transport for London unveiled the new design to the public. The new trains will be designed by the London’s studio Priestmangoode. Planned to be rolled out on four London tube lines in 2020, this new public transport infrastructure could be the first fleet of driverless Underground trains.
“We are creating a blueprint for a single train design that will be rolled out across the Bakerloo, Central, Piccadilly and Waterloo & City lines, allowing for more efficient procurement and long-term maintenance procedures”, announced studio Priestmangoode.
The trains will also be air conditioned and be Wi-Fi enabled, and replace traditional paper advertising with “dynamic” screens that can be updated with real-time travel information and advertising messages. They are intended to last for 30 years and run 24 hours a day.
The firm has produced two versions, one with a driver’s cab and one that is driverless with seats running up to the front of the cab.
To watch the video of the new design click here.
For more information please visit the original links: Dezen & TfL
