Both suppliers prequalified separately alongside Alstom, CAF, and Siemens to bid for the contract to build trains for Piccadilly, Waterloo & City, Bakerloo and Central lines.

The trains will be the first on the deep-level Tube lines, which have a very restricted loading-gauge, to have air cooling.

Bids were submitted on September 26 and London Underground expects to award the contract in autumn 2017.