Transport for London has appointed AECOM to assess the depot and siding upgrades required for the future replacement of the Bakerloo Line fleet. The trains currently operating on the route entered service in 1972 and are the oldest used in daily passenger operation in the United Kingdom.
Transport for London (TfL) has taken another preliminary step towards introducing new trains on the Bakerloo Line by commissioning a feasibility study for the supporting depot and stabling infrastructure.
Global infrastructure consultancy AECOM, supported by Arcadis, will examine the changes required at three key locations as part of the wider Bakerloo Line Upgrade programme.
The appointment does not represent an order for new trains. It covers the early feasibility, planning and option-development work needed to establish how maintenance and stabling facilities would have to be adapted for a future fleet.
Britain’s oldest trains in daily passenger service
The Bakerloo Line continues to use trains that first entered passenger service in 1972. According to AECOM, they are the oldest trains still used in daily passenger operation anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Replacing the fleet is expected to support long-term improvements in reliability, capacity and passenger experience. Before new rolling stock can be introduced, however, TfL must determine the changes required to the infrastructure used for maintaining and stabling the trains.
“This is a significant milestone in the Bakerloo Line Upgrade programme and the next step towards improving efficiency, capacity and connectivity across the line,” said Shadi Shekarrizi, Rail Director for London and the South East at AECOM.
She said the consultancy would combine planning, engineering and digital expertise to develop practical solutions for the depots and sidings needed to support new rolling stock.
Three locations included in the study
AECOM will lead the multidisciplinary feasibility and planning work, with support from international design and consultancy company Arcadis.
The study will cover:
Stonebridge Park Depot
the Queen’s Park area
the London Road sidings near Elephant & Castle.
The work will include planning, systems engineering, railway disciplines, environmental services, digital delivery and Building Information Modelling integration.
These activities will result in a coordinated baseline design for the three locations, providing TfL with a technical basis for subsequent stages of the upgrade programme.
Previous cooperation on London rail projects
The appointment builds on AECOM and Arcadis’ existing cooperation on the upgrade of Beckton Depot for the Docklands Light Railway.
The Beckton project forms part of the DLR Rolling Stock Replacement programme and is intended to provide the infrastructure needed for a new fleet while supporting higher capacity on the network.
AECOM was also selected alongside WW+P Architects to provide design services for four proposed London Underground stations under the planned Bakerloo Line Extension into south-east London.
The company is additionally acting as lead designer for the first stage of TfL’s Elephant & Castle Station Capacity Upgrade.
The replacement of the Bakerloo Line fleet will ultimately depend on funding being secured for both the trains and the associated infrastructure works.
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