Transport for London has outlined plans for a part closure of the Piccadilly Line from this weekend, affecting travel to and from Heathrow airport.
The line will be closed between Hammersmith and Heathrow in the early hours of Saturday 10 February (meaning no Night Tube west of Hammersmith station), and then between Acton Town and Heathrow from the start of normal service on Saturday, until the start of service on Thursday 15 February.
During the closure TfL is advising customers travelling to or from Heathrow to use either the Elizabeth Line, rail replacement bus services or local buses. The Heathrow Express will also remain open during the affected period.
TfL said that the closure was necessary to replace points “on a complicated stretch of track where trains come out of Northfields depot to enter service”.
It added that “The closure will take five days because it is not a like-for-like renewal, which means that once the first section is removed, the rest of the track in the area must be removed and replaced”, and said that infrastructure work would also take place at Heathrow stations during the closure “to minimise future disruption”.
The work is being carried out ahead of the introduction of new Piccadilly Line trains in 2025, which will increase capacity by around 10 per cent and feature walk-through, air-conditioned carriages and improved accessibility.
Commenting on the news Richard Jones, director of asset performance delivery for TfL, said:
“We thank customers in advance for their patience during this vital closure of the Piccadilly line. The track at Northfields has to be replaced and doing so will make journeys smoother and more reliable, as well as enable us to deliver as much of the improvements made by the upgrade to the Piccadilly line as possible.
“The Elizabeth line will help customers reach Heathrow Airport during this closure but we will also be operating rail replacement buses in Hounslow and the surrounding areas. Customers should check before they travel and leave more time for their journeys during this work.”
