First train completely overhauled - 84 to go!
Under the PPP contract between the London Underground and Metronet Rail, the first overhauled Central line train has gone into service. The overhauled train known as the �Glass Case' will provide a benchmark for the rest of the fleet as part of a £68 million overhaul programme by Metronet.
Passengers who board the train can now expect to notice better door operation, better lighting, an improved ride and more reliable service, say Metronet. Overhaul works on the bogies has improved routine maintenance of track motors and gearboxes. �We're now aiming for 11,000 kilometres as the mean distance between failures,� explained Steve Munro, Metronet's Production Manager for Central line operations. �Our actual target is 8,600km and we're at 9,600km but we're aiming much higher with this train. With all the new components added and changes made, we have a much more reliable train.�
Teams from across Metronet's Ruislip and Acton depots worked six days a week to produce this benchmark train, and its performance will be continually measured while the other trains are worked on. The overhaul programme is designed so that it does not affect the Central line fleet availability.
Work continues on the other 84 trains on the Central line. Alan Clifford, Metronet's Central line Fleet Manager, added: �This benchmark shows just what the trains are capable of. It really is the future of what we want for our fleet and we've now set even harder targets to meet our overhaul deadline of December 2005.�
September 10, 2004