Line that has gone the longest time without closure for planned engineering works

[adelante_burns]

A thought occurred to me last night that the Victoria Line might hold the record for going the longest since it was last closed/part closed for planned engineering works, following the completion of its heavy upgrade in the 2010s, unless the odd one-off closure since has gone under the radar. Wonder how long we can expect this streak to last! Are there any other lines (or parts of lines) that may be strong contenders?

 

[erikvd28]

Bakerloo line between Queen's park and Elephant and Castle?

 

[WIJunction]

Bakerloo line between Queen's park and Elephant and Castle?

The last time the bakerloo was fully closed was April 2024

 

[Kite159]

Waterloo & City line?

Especially since TfL decided in a post Covid world running it on the weekends isn't needed (hence I would imagine giving staff time to do maintenance)

 

[Harpo]

By closure I assume you mean periods when there would normally be a public service? Railways continuously switch between being in the operator’s possession and being in the engineer’s possession (‘closed’) without losing public services.

 

[adelante_burns]

By closure I assume you mean periods when there would normally be a public service? Railways continuously switch between being in the operator’s possession and being in the engineer’s possession (‘closed’) without losing public services.

Yes that’s what I meant. I should probably have mentioned I work in the industry.

 

[bluegoblin7]

The Victoria line was partially closed north of Seven Sisters for nearly a month in August 2015 for a points and crossings renewal at Walthamstow.

Without delving into the archive I'm almost certain it's the W&C.

 

[700007]

The last planned closure of the Victoria line was in May 2020 (this was a full line closure). I am not aware of any closures that have taken place since. I know there was an unplanned one not too long ago when the crossovers at Walthamstow failed earlier this summer albeit that was just the last few trains of the night being cancelled to facilitate a longer possession.

The Northern line down to Morden is very rarely closed as well and I think the last closure was in mid-2022. Ironically I say this but a weekend planned closure has been pencilled in for early 2026.

 

[bramling]

A thought occurred to me last night that the Victoria Line might hold the record for going the longest since it was last closed/part closed for planned engineering works, following the completion of its heavy upgrade in the 2010s, unless the odd one-off closure since has gone under the radar. Wonder how long we can expect this streak to last! Are there any other lines (or parts of lines) that may be strong contenders?

Before Crossrail opened, it was quite rare for the Piccadilly Line to be closed to Heathrow Airport. Not unheard of, but certainly rare.

 

[73Stock]

Piccadilly line was closed between Acton Town and Heathrow last weekend.

 

[700007]

Before Crossrail opened, it was quite rare for the Piccadilly Line to be closed to Heathrow Airport. Not unheard of, but certainly rare.

Indeed they were probably once a year at best for quite a long while? Heathrow pre-Elizabeth was a very sensitive closure as no ticket acceptance could be arranged with Heathrow Connect / Heathrow Express and TfL would normally throw the kitchen sink at ensuring the rail replacement buses ran smoothly. From Covid onwards (with airport passenger demand collapsing, then the Elizabeth line opening) they subsequently took the tactical opportunity to start doing repeated and sometimes consecutive weekend closures on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly line in preparation for the new trains.

They've even gone as far as doing a full week blockade on more than one occasion which a decade ago would be considered almost unthinkable!

 

[Mojo]

Heathrow pre-Elizabeth was a very sensitive closure as no ticket acceptance could be arranged with Heathrow Connect / Heathrow Express and TfL would normally throw the kitchen sink at ensuring the rail replacement buses ran smoothly.

lt's worth mentioning that whilst this was the situation for the decade prior to the opening of TfL Rail services to the airport, it wasn't always like this. Certainly in the late 2000s there were numerous weekends where Z1-6 Travelcards and Oyster cards were accepted on Heathrow Express during LUL engineering work on the Piccadilly line. Here's one such thread from the forum: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/piccadily-lines-heathrow-branch-to-be-closed-in-october.24934/