London Underground Upgrade

From 2003 to 2010, a public-private partnership between the London Underground and Tube Lines, operated by a Bechtel consortium, worked to upgrade the Jubilee, Northern, and Piccadilly lines of the city's historic subway system.  

All three lines are storied sections of the Underground, which began serving Londoners 140 years ago. The Northern Line traces its roots to the City and South London Railway—the world’s first electric deep-level tube line—which opened in 1890. The Piccadilly Line opened in 1906. The Jubilee Line is the youngest part of the system, but serves stations that first opened more than a century ago.

In June 2010, Tube Lines was sold to Transport for London, ending Bechtel's involvement in the project.

During the seven years prior to the sale, the project racked up a number of accomplishments, including:

• The Piccadilly and Northern lines were 70 and 65 percent more reliable respectively in 2010 than in 2003. The Northern Line’s reliability woes had earned it the nickname “the misery line.”
• More than 90 stations were upgraded, along with a threefold increase in the number of CCTV cameras to help keep travelers safe.
• Almost 62 miles (100 kilometers) of track was replaced or refurbished.
• Wembley Park station—the gateway to the new Wembley Stadium—was enlarged to reflect the scale and status of the new stadium