Thales wins one billion euro contract to upgrade London underground lines

PARIS (Reuters) - French transport and defence group Thales has won a contract worth one billion euros (760 million pounds) to upgrade four London Underground lines, including the oldest part of the network. Under the 760 million pound contract, Thales will modernise signalling and train control systems on the Circle, District Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines, which make up 40 percent of the network. Upgrading the old equipment should allow the lines to handle on average a third more traffic, Thales said in a statement. Canada's Bombardier was originally awarded the contract to upgrade the lines in 2011, but the contract was terminated in 2013 following overruns and delays. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; editing by Jason Neely)