Tickets on Sale for Piccadilly Line Heritage Train Journeys

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Travel in carefully restored 1938 carriages leaving from local stations

Crowds at Acton Town station during a previous outing for the train. Picture: London Transport Museum

June 5, 2025

Tickets are now on sale for a chance to travel in the Art Deco style 1938 burgundy train which once served the Piccadilly line.

Similar trips had to be cancelled last year after the train was vandalised but in 2025 the trips form part of the TfL25 and Railway 200 celebrations marking 25 years of Transport for London and 200 years of the railway.

On Friday 11 July journeys will start from Northfields around the Heathrow Loop (round trip), on Saturday 12 July, journeys will start at Acton Town station to Uxbridge (round trip) and on Sunday 13 July, journeys will start from both Ealing Broadway, through central London, to Cockfosters (single trip) and from Cockfosters to Ealing Broadway (single trip) .

The 1938 Stock was the first kind of Tube train to have all the electrical equipment underneath the floor, combining the latest technology of the era with quintessential late 1930s style. These trains served London, on several deep-level Tube lines, for half a century. The 1938 stock was one of the capital’s longest serving Tube trains.  

A Piccadilly heritage train at North Ealing. Picture: London Transport Museum

The carefully restored electrified train is made up of four cars complete with green and red moquette seating, grab handles and distinctive Art deco light fittings. London Transport Museum offers the only opportunity to travel on a heritage train on London Underground.  

Families, transport enthusiasts and vintage fans will be able to immerse themselves in transport history – pick up a souvenir flyer or family activity sheet and visit the London Transport Museum Friends stall to browse some transport memorabilia.     

As passengers travel along the Piccadilly line they can view modernist architecture of Charles Holden, who designed many of the outer London Tube stations as the line was extended at both ends in the 1930s. Passengers can alight at Northfields, Acton Town and Cockfosters to view Holden’s influence, with the train also passing through other excellent examples, including Arnos Grove, Southgate and Sudbury Town.

A Piccadilly heritage train destination Ealing Common. Picture: London Transport Museum

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Holden’s birth, with design fans able to see how Holden created a unified look and identity for many London Underground stations. An actor playing Charles Holden will be on the station platforms talking to passengers on all three days about his life, career and the golden age of travel.  

Elizabeth McKay, CEO and Director for London Transport Museum, said: ‘Come and join us on our wonderfully restored 1938 Art deco-style train this summer. Step aboard and experience the joyful nostalgia of riding the rails of one of the capital’s much-loved transport relics as we celebrate 25 years of TfL and 200 years of train travel. Tickets must be bought in advance so make sure you don’t miss out on this thrilling day out.’ 

Claire Mann, Chief Operating Officer at TfL, said, ‘It has been a great year of celebrations so far, and these heritage train journeys as part of TfL 25 and 200 years of train travel in UK, not only allow customers to take a step back in time but also feel the change in train travel during the last century. We hope those attending enjoy the day and we look forward to hosting more celebratory events during the remainder of the year.’

Tickets must be bought in advance.

The interior of the carefully refurbished carriage. Picture: London Transport Museum

Passengers would have heard from an expert museum curator about the work and care that goes into maintaining an 86-year-old train. In addition, at one station there was to have been a mini talk about the architect Charles Holden and how his innovative station design has played a major role in shaping the appearance of London.

The 1938 stock train was the first kind of deep-level Tube train to have all the electrical equipment underneath the floor, combining the latest technology of the time with quintessential late 1930s style. These trains served London, on several deep-level Tube lines, for half a century. This carefully restored electrified train is made up of four cars complete with green and red moquette seating, grab handles and distinctive Art Deco light fittings.

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