Transport for London has confirmed the Piccadilly line will fully reopen at the end of January following a two month closure. Significant leaf fall caused by two storms in mid-November led to trains being suspended between Uxbridge and Rayners Lane.
Nearly all Piccadilly line trains have been affected by “wheel flats.” This happens when the brakes are applied but the wheels slide – causing erosion on the track.
As a result of the damage just 60 Piccadilly line trains are running on the line, which is 15 short of the 75 needed to run a full timetable. TfL says repair work is progressing, but the time-consuming nature of this means the line will still be shut for another two weeks.
The Piccadilly line regularly experiences problems due to leaf fall in autumn. Transport bosses put this down to the Piccadilly fleet being one of the oldest on the London Underground network.
In late-2025 new, larger trains will be introduced. Newer trains on other Tube lines have not been as affected by leaf fall, so passengers should experience more reliable Piccadilly line journeys next autumn and winter.
Richard Jones, Director of Asset Performance Delivery for TfL, said: “I apologise to Piccadilly line customers for the disruption they have been experiencing over recent weeks.
“The trains, which are among the oldest on the network, have sustained damage to the wheels and motors due to recent weather conditions.
“We have not operated Piccadilly line services between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge for some time due to the rail conditions in the area and the number of trains we have available for service.
“Essential repair work has had to be completed to ensure that the trains continue to operate safely and reliably ahead of the introduction of new Piccadilly line trains.
“The repair work is progressing well and we expect to be able to restore full Piccadilly line service in late January.”
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