The Tube: Piccadilly Line

A 1973 Stock approaches South Harrow station bound for Cockfosters.

Our first post based on trains - that excludes rail replacement services, we hope to do well so that we can produce more of these types of posts! Anyways, the Piccadilly Line is part of the TfL's Underground system which just celebrated the Tube's 150th Anniversary. The Piccadilly line is Blue on the map. 

The line is the only tube line to serve the world's 5th busiest airport (?), London Heathrow. In Heathrow, there are 3 stations: Terminals 1,2 and 3 which all Heathrow trains will pass through although on a Terminal 4 service, the trains will go from Hatton Cross to Terminal 4 instead of Terminals 1,2 and 3. Also, Terminal 4 is a one-way system so all trains at the station will go to Terminals 1,2 and 3. Heathrow Terminal 4 is also the only station in the Underground to be a one-way system. Then there's the most recent addition to the Piccadilly Line, Heathrow Terminal 5, which was opened in March 2008, for British Airways flights.

Another 1973 stock that is bound for Uxbridge.

Services on the Piccadilly Line are as followed:

- Uxbridge to Cockfosters/ Arnos Grove
- Rayners Lane to Cockfosters/ Arnos Grove
- Heathrow Terminals 4 followed by 1,2 and 3 to Cockfosters/ Arnos Grove
- Heathrow Terminals 5 to Cockfosters/ Arnos Grove via Terminals 1,2,3.
- Northfields to Cockfosters/ Arnos Grove.

All these services run in the opposite direction as well.

Stations on the Piccadilly Line:

Uxbridge Branch;

Uxbridge |
Hillingdon |
Ickenham |
Ruislip |
Ruislip Manor |
Eastcote |
Rayners Lane |
South Harrow
Sudbury Hill
Sudbury Town
Alperton
Park Royal
North Ealing
Ealing Common |

 Heathrow Terminal  4:

Hatton Cross |*

Heathrow Terminal 4

Heathrow Terminal 1,2 & 3|*

Heathrow Terminal 5:

Heathrow Terminal 5

Heathrow Terminal 1,2 & 3|

Hatton Cross|

Hatton Cross onwards:

Hatton Cross 

Hounslow West

Hounslow Central

Hounslow East

Osterley

Boston Manor

Northfields

South Ealing

Two Branches now meet, the trains from Ealing Common/ South Ealing will stop at Acton Town as there next station:

Acton Town |

Turnham Green* |

Hammersmith |||

Barons Court |

Earl's Court |

Gloucester Road ||

South Kensington ||

Knightsbridge 

Hyde Park Corner 

Green Park ||

Piccadilly Circus |

Leicster Square |

Covent Garden 

Holborn |

Russell Square

King's Cross/ St Pancras |||||

Caledonian Road

Holloway Road

Arsenal

Finsbury Park |

Manor House

Turnpike Lane

Wood Green

Bound Green

Arnos Grove

Southgate

Oakwood

Cockfosters

The colour lines next to some of the names are the lines that also pass there.
*Trains only stop at Turnham Green early mornings and late evenings. At other times, use the District Line for Turnham Green and other stations which the Piccadilly does not stop between Acton Town and Hammersmith.

Also in early morning/ late evenings, trains on the Uxbridge branch only go as far as Rayners Lane. Use the Metropolitan Line from here for stations to Uxbridge. Also is advised if no train is shown coming - take the first to Rayners Lane and change. 

The seat moquette on the Piccadilly Line.

Depots and Sidings:
There are two depots for the Piccadilly Line, one at Northfields with the other at Cockfosters. There are several sidings however with some at Rayners Lane, South Harrow, Ruislip and Oakwood.

A 1973 stock bound for Rayners Lane leaves South Harrow.

Future Developements:

The Piccadilly Line is to have new trains starting to roll out in 2014/5. These are part of a project called the "Evolution Trains" which are to go on the Bakerloo and Piccadilly Lines.

EPTUG(Ealing Passengers Travel Users Group) has proposed an idea that the Piccadilly Line should stop at Turnham Green all day on a weekend instead of the Early morning/ Late evening schedules.

I hope you've enjoyed this post and remember to stay safe!