District line passengers are this week the first to benefit from renewed, safer and more accessible Underground trains, as the billions now being invested in the Capital by Transport for London (TfL) start to deliver.

Grab poles have been painted green to help passengers see at a glance that it is a District line train

The 75 District line trains, which first served Tube passengers a quarter of a century ago, are the first on the Underground to be refurbished as part of TfL's five-year £10bn Investment Programme.

Delivered by Metronet, the refurbished trains include completely renewed interiors; exteriors newly painted in LU's red white and blue livery; CCTV in carriages; dot matrix information (DMI) displays; and accessibility measures, including tip-up seats to accommodate wheelchairs, buggies and luggage.

The first trains have entered service on the Olympia branch.

The rest will be rolled out across other parts of the District line as they are delivered over the next three and a half years.

Bob Thorogood, District line General Manager, said: "We're investing billions to improve the Tube and these renewed District line trains will help us make it safer, cleaner, more reliable and accessible.

"Last year the Underground improved, running more trains and carrying more passengers than ever before.

"The District line played a big part in that, improving the number of scheduled services operated from 95.5 per cent in 2002/3 to 96.6 per cent in 2003/4, but we know there is much more to do.

"That's why these refurbished trains are so important. They have served District line passengers well since 1979, but it's time for this renewal.

'Time for renewal'

"It means they can continue to serve District line passengers until 2015, when they will all have been replaced by new trains."

Mick Foote, Managing Director for Metronet Rail SSL, said: "These trains are brighter, smarter, more secure and more accessible.

"Metronet is currently investing £1bn a year upgrading the Tube and this is a clear manifestation of that commitment."

District line carriages have been refurbished with a modern and contemporary design that offers marked improvements in safety, accessibility and customer information.

Inside the carriages, curved handrails replace the old hanging strap handles and all grab poles will be painted green to help boarding passengers see at a glance that the train is a District line service.

All internal panels have been replaced or resurfaced, and seats have been redesigned with new fire retardant cushions in a smart moquette of shades of blue and green.

From the platform, the trains will also look very different as the previously bare aluminium exterior has been repainted in the Underground's familiar red, white and blue livery.

Improved security features include CCTV in carriages and passenger alarms which will allow customers to talk directly to the train operator.

New windows in the car ends allow passengers to see and be seen from other cars, and the driver's cabs have been fitted with missile-proof windscreens.

To improve accessibility, every car will have an area fitted with tip-up seats to accommodate wheelchairs, buggies and luggage.

The passenger alarm in this area will be placed at a height that makes it available to wheelchair users. A grab pole in the door will further aid access.

Improved passenger information

Wooden floors are replaced with a non-slip material and feature contrasting aisle and vestibule colours with a yellow doorway strip to assist the partially-sighted.

Passenger information has been improved through external DMI displays giving the train's destination have been fitted to the ends of carriages and, for the first time, to the sides of the train.

Along with new in-car audio systems, DMIs will give information on where passengers should change for other Tube lines and transport.

Refurbishment of the entire District line fleet will take nearly four years.

To avoid disruption to passengers, Metronet w

  • TfL is investing £10bn over the next five years to improve and expand London's transport network, more than half of that in the Tube
  • Metronet Rail SSL is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and East London lines
  • Refurbishment of the entire District line stock is a core PPP deliverable from Metronet Rail SSL
  • However, London Underground exercised a Specified Right under the PPP contracts to deliver some elements of the refurbishment programme, such as multi-purpose areas with folding seats and the replacement of all interior panelling. These additional features and extra cost on top of the PPP investment was funded by TfL's £10bn five-year Investment Programme
  • London Underground ran more trains and carried more passengers than ever before in 2004/5. To summarise the record LU performance last year:
    • Passengers carried: LU carried 976m passengers in 2004/5, an increase of 3% on 2003/4 and the highest ever figure, beating the previous best of 970m set in 2000/1;
    • Train kms operated: LU operated 69.4m train kms, again the best ever figure, up by 2.5% from 67.7m kms in 2003/4;
    • % of schedule operated: LU operated 95.3% of all scheduled train services - a seven year high - up by 2.2% on the 93.1% figure in 2003/4 and by 4.2% on the 91.1% figure recorded in 2002/3;
    • Customer satisfaction survey: LU recorded an overall customer satisfaction score of 78 out of 100, up from 76 in 2003/4 and the highest annual score yet achieved since recording began in 1990/1.