08.05.11
Milestone met by Tube Lines coincides with opening of London transport museum
Construction of eco-friendly Northern Line Control Centre completed
Construction on a crucial new building which will enable Northern line trains to run faster and more frequently has been completed by Tube Lines, the company rebuilding the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines. The completion of work to build the Northern Line Control Centre in north London paves the way for new signalling computers to be installed. The significant milestone coincides with the opening of the newly refurbished London Transport Museum, of which Tube Lines is principal sponsor.
One of the new exhibits in the Museum explains how Tube Lines is replacing the signalling systems on all three of its lines to enable trains to safely run faster and at shorter intervals, meaning passengers will have to wait less time for trains and will enjoy quicker journeys. A computer game challenges Museum visitors to drive an Underground train and race against one of the computer-driven trains of the future.
Tube Lines chose to become principal sponsor because the new Museum looks at the present and future of transport in London, not just the past. Because of its 30 year commitment to improving its share of the network, Tube Lines is a vital part of transport in London for the long term.
The Northern Line Control Centre, which will now be fitted with new equipment to run the more advanced signalling system, shares strong environmental credentials with the new Museum. While the Museum features energy-generating solar cells on its roof, the Tube Lines Control Centre boasts the largest green roof of its kind in London and the first in Britain on any railway building. Plants which blend with the local environment and neighbouring woods blossomed while construction reached its final stages.
The Control Centre’s environmentally-friendly characteristics go beyond its green roof. Its design was altered to minimise the materials needed to build it and large quantities of earth excavated for the foundations were reused elsewhere on site, reducing the number of lorry trips required to remove it. A special lighting system keeps energy consumption down and minimises light pollution, benefiting both local residents and a nearby colony of bats.
Malcolm Codling, Tube Lines Delivery Manager for the line upgrades on all three lines said:
“The Control Centre is a vital part of the line upgrades which will deliver significant improvements to passengers on the London Underground and help make the Tube fit for the 21st Century. It’s a highly complex project but the game and exhibit in the London Transport Museum help explain how we are moving towards faster, more frequent trains.”
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