LONDON’S NEW VICTORIA LINE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 7

LONDON’S NEW VICTORIA LINE

IBy ZALIA THOMAS) LONDON, August 20. A novel experience for New Zealand visitors to London in 1969 will be a ride on the much-heralded Victoria Line—a new 14 mile underground system with 16 stations (14 of which interchange with other Underground or British Rail lines). This system, which will ultimately cost around £BO million, will have a rush-

hour capacity of 25,000 pasengers an hour in either direction and has a carrying capacity equivalent to 11 motorways running across the heart of London. Automatic gates will open when a valid ticket is inserted and immediately return the ticket for the passenger to pick up on the way through. Similar machines at exits will automatically open if the ticket is correct. If the right fare has not been paid the gate will remain shut and the ticket will be returned for presentation to the “Excess Fare’’ window. This system of automatic fare collection will eventually

be extended to all Underground lines to cut costs and deter fraudulent travel. The stations have been designed to provide easy interchange, with escalators leading direct to platforn level wherever possible. New ventilation techniques minimise draughts on platforms and keep the tube cool. The new carriages will have larger windows to make it easier to see station names and will be double-glazed to reduce noise. The height of the glass in the doors has been increased so that standing passengers can see station names more easily than with the current type of carriage. A stand-back space has been provided near the doors so that standing passengers do not obstruct entry or exit. The lighting has been arranged to give brightness without glare, and there are 12 illuminated advertisements in each car. Two-level armrests can be shared by adjacent passengers. Each car has a loudspeaker so that the train driver, who is in direct contact with the line controller, can make special announcements to passengers. One of the most important

features of the Victoria line is automatic train operation, which gives more regular and uniform running, makes more efficient use of electricity and reduces staff costs. Each train has only one operator who, after closing the doors, starts the train by pressing two buttons. The train is then driven automatically to the next station. There are controls within the cab for moving trains in the depot and for the train operator to take over if necessary.

The seat and the equipment which affects the sitting position and vision of the train operator was one of the areas which London Transport’s Human Factors Group has examined: this group has also been involved in the design of all new equipment on the line which is used by public or staff. Closed circuit television equipment will be used to give station staff a picture of what is happening throughout a station and help them to maintain a smooth flow of passengers. The photograph shows part of one of the newstyle cars.