London's Central line upgrade stalls with just four trains refitted after years

London's Central line upgrade is facing major delays, with only four trains refitted so far. The £500 million project, meant to modernise 71 ageing carriages, has hit setbacks despite promises of faster progress. Passengers continue to experience reduced service reliability and frequent station closures.

By early 2026, just four of the 71 Central line trains had been upgraded under the £500 million refit programme. Initial plans had suggested one train per month would be completed, but the current pace means the full project might not finish until 2043. Transport for London (TfL) has since pledged to accelerate the work and complete it by the end of the 2020s.

Richard Jones, TfL's director of asset performance delivery, confirmed that essential testing is still underway. He assured that the rate of upgrades would soon increase significantly. The refits include new seat fabrics, upgraded motors, and improved in-car information screens, though air conditioning will not be added.

Meanwhile, the ageing trains have suffered from persistent graffiti due to cleaning issues at TfL depots. Service reliability has also declined, with fewer trains running and regular station closures affecting passengers.

Only four more trains are now expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The delays have left the Central line with outdated stock and ongoing service problems. TfL insists the refit will eventually improve capacity and reliability, but the timeline remains uncertain.