Mind the Gap: BIM Bridges the Divide Between Old Tunnels and New Trains
Emily Pollock posted on October 24, 2018 |
Transport for London’s new Piccadilly trains are pictured here in a model. TFL determined the best design for the new trains using models of all of the line’s platforms. (Image courtesy of TFL.)
At the Bentley Year in Infrastructure 2018 Conference, one of the Reality Modelling finalist projects hit close to home, literally. Transport for London (TFL) had become a finalist for its model of the Piccadilly line.
TFL is in the process of rolling out new trains on its Piccadilly line, which will replace the 40-year-old trains currently on the line. Part of that process involved mapping out the line’s 120 platforms to ensure that the new trains would fit the old infrastructure.
According to spokespeople Pavel Srokowski and Kevin Moore, the project required an extremely precise model. The tunnels, built back in the early 20th century, were made exactly for the round tops of the old trains to save money on excavation. Any new trains would have to fit the tunnels just as perfectly, to maximize space inside the train while not scraping the tops of the tunnels. The trains would also need to fit the old platforms, and match up well with their level. There were also difficulties caused by the fact that London is an old city that has an extensive preexisting underground infrastructure.
Additionally, the Piccadilly line was initially built along the…