Piccadilly Line to shut for upgrades

Posted by Frank II (Freedonia) on 04/12/24 05:26 AM

Sometime later this year--no date given yet--the Piccadilly line will shut for upgrades and repairs. It's in preparation for new air-conditioned cars.

I'll update as soon as dates are given.

For many of us, the Piccadilly line is our main conveyance from Heathrow into London. It looks like during the closure only the more expensive options will be available. Or they may come up with some type of temporary plan to overcome this problem.

https://www.timeout.com/london/news/the-piccadilly-line-will-close-later-this-year-041024

Posted by isn31c

Lake District, England

04/12/24 07:49 AM

5811 posts

Before the Tube there were only bus routes to Heathrow.

Those routes still exist, and are well used. Locals still use them for airport journeys, especially when there is service disruption on the tube or trains.

The main ones, although there are a number of others, are to Feltham for South West Trains to Waterloo (the same overall journey time as the tube, sometimes faster) and to Uxbridge for the Metroplitan Line.
Because of the premium on tube fares to Heathrow those routes cost no more than a current tube fare.

Posted by smckissick

Kansas

04/13/24 11:55 PM

15 posts

Does a person carry their "carry-on" roller bag up the stairs of the bus or is it put in a compartment in the belly of the bus?
Is the waterloo station close to County Hall and "step free"?

Posted by Carol now retired

Lynnwood, Washington

04/14/24 01:20 AM

8392 posts

If I remember correctly there are escalators from underground up to the train station. I do think that there are some steps involved exiting and entering Waterloo. If you can carry you bag up or down one flight of stairs you will be golden. Just a few blocks from County Hall.

Posted by isn31c

Lake District, England

04/14/24 05:43 AM

5811 posts

Trains from Feltham are on the main line, not Underground, so within Waterloo, the station is level. Last time I did that route we used the old Eurostar platforms at Waterloo, escalators and lifts from there to the main station.
The main exit to County Hall is the grand stairs, but there is also a level exit via the cab road which is well signposted, and well used. It is a longer route, so swings and roundabouts.
But I recommend the grand stairs as that is getting the grandeur of the station. Lots of people with luggage use that route.

I enjoyed that as Waterloo International was one of my bigger transport related construction projects. It was nice to be able to enjoy the station on a domestic service, rather than on a Eurostar where you were processed through in a quite different manner. Domestically I was free to just saunter through.