Only five out of 85 Central line trains have been refurbished as part of the £500m project so far
The plan to revamp all Central line trains by 2030 is still on track despite claims of delays, Transport for London has said. Since the first refurbished train re-entered service in October 2024 only four more have been completed.
This means 80 more trains will need to be revamped by March 2030 to prevent any delays to TfL’s timetable, while the authority has already spent for than half of its £500m budget on the project so far.
Upgrades to the Central line trains include new seating, wheelchair bays, CCTV in carriages and information screens showing each station.
In the current financial year from April 2026 to March 2027 engineers plan to refurbish six further trains. This will gradually rise to 18 trains brought up to standard in 2027-29, then increasing to 31 more trains in 2028/29 and 25 more trains in 2029/30.
Despite £266m of £500m being spent so far, TfL said this has been spent on design, preliminary tasks and materials for the bulk trains and resources to date.
Jasmit Jabbal, TfL engagement lead for North East London and Essex, previously told Epping Forest District Council in January that motor failure issues on dozens of Central line trains over the prior 18 months meant engineers had to briefly change their priorities to prevent stretches of the line being out of action.
The project was drawn up about a decade ago as a means to extend the lifespan of Central line trains – which were built in the early 1990s – into the 2040s. The £500m refurbishment plans were seen as a much cheaper alternative to an entirely new fleet of trains estimated to cost £1bn.
“We are undertaking the most significant overhaul project in the history of London Underground,” Richard Jones, TfL’s director of asset performance delivery said in February.
“This crucial and innovative work will refresh the ageing trains on the Central line and ensure trains will continue to operate, extending their working life.”
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