London Underground 1972 Stock

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London Underground 1972 Stock
1972 Tube Stock Stonebridge Park.jpg
A Bakerloo line 1972 Stock at Stonebridge Park
Bakerloo line 72 Tube Stock T Interior.jpg
The interior of a refurbished 1972 Stock trailer car
Stock type Deep-level tube
In service1972–present
Manufacturer Metro-Cammell [1]
Built at Washwood Heath, England [1]
Replaced
Constructed1972–1974 [1]
Entered service26 June 1972
Refurbished
Number built63 trains
Number in service36 trains
Successor
Formation7 cars per train
Capacity851 per train
Lines served
Specifications
Train length113.552 m (372 ft 6.6 in)
Car length
  • DM 16.091 m (52 ft 9.5 in)
  • T/UNDM 15.977 m (52 ft 5.0 in)
Width2.641 m (8 ft 8.0 in)
Height2.875 m (9 ft 5.2 in)
Maximum speed72 km/h (45 mph)
Traction systemPneumatic single camshaft (Associated Electrical Industries) [1]
Traction motors LT115 DC motor (Brush Traction) [1]
Seating
  • 40 per DM/UNDM car
  • 36 per T car
  • 264 per train
Notes/references
Underground sign at Westminster.jpg London transportportal

The London Underground 1972 Stock is a type of rolling stock used on the London Underground. The 1972 Stock was originally ordered to make up the shortfall in trains on the Northern line's 1959 Tube Stock fleet, but is currently used on the Bakerloo line. Following the withdrawal of the 1938 Stock-based British Rail Class 483 EMUs from the Isle of Wight in 2021, the 1972 Stock are now the oldest trains in regular passenger service in the United Kingdom. A total of 63 seven-car trains were built in two separate batches.

Contents

Construction

A total of 441 cars were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath, in two batches: the 1972 Mark I Stock comprised 90 driving motors (DM), 90 trailers (T) and 30 uncoupling non-driving motors (UNDM), to form 30 seven-car trains; the 1972 Mark II Stock was 33 seven-car trains (99 DM, 99 T and 33 UNDM). [3]

In the early 1970s, the 1938 Tube stock on the Bakerloo and Northern line was life-expired and due for replacement. Tentative designs for a new Northern line fleet were abandoned when the go-ahead was given for the Piccadilly line to be extended to Heathrow Airport. That required a totally new fleet of trains to replace the 1959 stock then in use. The plan was made to transfer the 1959 trains to the Northern, to allow the worst of the 1938 stock there to be scrapped, but there were only 76 1959 stock trains, and the Northern line needed more than that to operate. Originally, it was planned to refurbish around 30 of the 1938 trains, but this was scrapped in favour of 30 new trains of the 1972 Mark 1 Tube stock.

The 1972 Tube stock was ordered in a hurry, so there was no time to create a new design; the trains were based on the 1967 Tube stock on the Victoria line. Although almost identical looking, the 1972 trains were conventionally operated with a guard and door controls in the rear car, and were not compatible with 1967 Tube stock. In later years some surplus 1972 Mark 1 cars were adapted to run with the 1967 trains on the Victoria line, being coupled in the middle due to the lack of ATO equipment.

A further 33 trains of 1972 Tube stock were ordered to provide service on the Northern line. The 1972 Mark 2 stock had slightly different interiors with a dark blue seating moquette, unlike the red and grey on the earlier 1967 and 1972 cars. The biggest external difference was that the doors were painted red, with a London Transport roundel on the side of the carriages, rather than the Johnston lettering.

The 1972 Mark 2 trains first operated on the Northern line alongside the 1972 Mark 1 trains. From the late 1970s, they were gradually transferred to the Bakerloo line and operated alongside the 1938 Stock until they began operating on the Jubilee line when it opened in 1979. With the introduction of the first batch of 1983 stock on the Jubilee line in 1984, half of the 1972 Mark 2 trains were displaced back to the Northern line. After the introduction of a second batch of 1983 Stock on the Jubilee in 1987, all 1972 Mark 2 trains on the Jubilee and Northern lines were gradually converted to OPO and transferred to the Bakerloo line to displace the 1959 stock, where they remain in service.

In 1989, several Northern line Mark 1 units were painted in experimental liveries, and three trains were internally refurbished, before the refurbishment work was stopped because of the decision to order a new fleet. 3227 and 3518 were painted with blue doors and a white body, 3204 and 3522 were painted with a blue and white body, and 3202 and 3523 were painted in what would become a corporate livery. The earlier 1972 Mark 1 stock on the Northern line was replaced by 1995 Stock in 1999. After being withdrawn from the Northern line, a few cars of 1972 Mark 1 stock were converted to run with 1967 and 1972 Mark 2 stock in service on the Victoria and Bakerloo lines.

A further two trains were converted to be compatible with the Mark II type, and these now run on the Bakerloo line. One ex-Northern line set (3229) was based at the now-closed Aldwych station, for use in films until being sent to Ealing Common Depot in November 2021 and then Ruislip depot a month later. Another Mark 1 unit in a trial livery was sent to Acton Works to be used for shunting. One three-car unit (unit 3511)[ citation needed ] used to reside at Hainault depot until October 2018, where cars 4511 and 3411 had moved to Acton Works. The cab of unit 3511 had been fused onto unit 3538 following collision damage.

The 1972 trains are formed of seven-car sets and have a total of 268 passenger seats. After withdrawal from the Northern Line, five four-car units (units 3201, 3208, 3211, 3212 and 3230)[ citation needed ] were considered for use on the Waterloo and City line. The objective was to supply the Central line with extra 1992 stock. This never happened and the trains were sent to Mayer Perry or CF Booth of Rotherham to be scrapped.

Refurbishment

The fleet was refurbished between 1991 and 1995 by Tickford at Rosyth Dockyard. [1] From 2016 to 2018, the fleet was again refurbished at Acton Works to enable the trains to remain in service until their forecast replacement date of 2035. [2] The class received the Class 499/2 designation on British Rail's TOPS system to operate on the Bakerloo line north of Queens Park. [4]

Roster

1972 Tube Stock at Kilburn High Road 1972 Stock at Kilburn High Road 1.jpg
1972 Tube Stock at Kilburn High Road
1972 Mark 1 stock cab Ltmd-1972ts-cab.jpg
1972 Mark 1 stock cab
1972 Mark II stock in its original form at South Kenton 1972Mk2-OriginalLivery-SouthKenton.jpg
1972 Mark II stock in its original form at South Kenton
 
Formation32xx
(DM)
42xx
(T)
43xx
(T)
33xx
(DM)
34xx
(UNDM)
45xx
(T)
35xx
(DM)
Numbers [1] Mark I3264
:
3267
4264
:
4267
4364
:
4365
3364
:
3365
3464
:
3467
4564
:
4567
3564
:
3567
43673367
Mark II3231
:
:
:
3248
4231
:
:
:
4248
4331
:
:
:
4348
3331
:
:
:
3348
3431
:
3438
4531
:
4538
3531
:
3538
3440
:
3463
4540
:
4563
3540
:
3563
3250
:
3256
4250
:
4256
4350
:
4356
3350
:
3356
3258
:
3263
4258
:
4263
4358
:
4363
3358
:
3363
43663366
3299429943993399

Future replacement

In the late 1990s, the Labour government initiated a public–private partnership (PPP) to reverse years of underinvestment in London Underground. [5] Under the PPP contract, Metronet (the private consortium responsible for the Bakerloo line) would order new rolling stock for the Bakerloo line. [6] [7] This would take place following the delivery of 2009 Stock and S Stock trains, with an order for 24 new Bakerloo line trains. These would have entered service by 2019. [6] However, Metronet collapsed in 2007 after cost overruns, and the PPP ended in 2010. [8]

In the mid 2010s, TfL began a process of ordering new rolling stock to replace trains on the Piccadilly, Central, Bakerloo and Waterloo & City lines. [9] A feasibility study showed that new-generation trains and resignalling could increase capacity on the Bakerloo line by 25%, with 27 trains per hour. [9]

In June 2018, the Siemens Mobility Inspiro design was selected. [10] These trains will have an open-gangway design, wider doorways, air conditioning and the ability to run automatically with a new signalling system. [11] TfL could only afford to order Piccadilly line trains at a cost of £1.5bn. [12] However, the contract with Siemens includes an option for 40 trains for the Bakerloo line in the future. [13] This would take place after the delivery of the Piccadilly line trains in the late 2020s. [11] Based on a November 2021 paper, due to a lack of funding, this might not happen until the late 2030s or early 2040s, when the trains would be 60 to 70 years old — probably double their design life. [14] Since the withdrawal of the Class 483 on the Isle of Wight, the 1972-stock trains have become the oldest non-heritage trains running in the United Kingdom.

Post-withdrawal use

SubseriesCar number(s)Notes
Mark I3213-4213
3313-4313
Converted into Asset Inspection Train: see below.
Mark I3214-3314Cab of 3214 was converted into a static tourist exhibit at the Hamleys toy store. Since late 2018, the cab was up for sale on eBay since being replaced by Harry Potter merchandise. Cab of 3314 in storage at The Cab Yard. [15]
Mark I3229-4229
4329-3329
Formerly used for filming and training purposes. Stripped for spares at Ruislip depot in 2022, and awaiting scrapping in Staffordshire as of October 2023.[ citation needed ]
Mark I3530Static exhibit at the London Transport Museum [16]

Asset Inspection Train

1972 MkI Tube Stock 3313 incorporated into the Asset Inspection Train (AIT) AIT SthEaling.JPG
1972 MkI Tube Stock 3313 incorporated into the Asset Inspection Train (AIT)

Middle two cars are 67DM vehicles - 3079, 3179. Front 2 and rear two are 72 Mark 1 stock

Units 3079 & 3179 were overhauled at Eastleigh Works following withdrawal with no cab windows and new cables leading into each other. The AIT (Asset Inspection Train) was to replace the Track Recording Train (1960 Stock DMs and 73 Stock T) which is currently in use. However, in July 2021 the AIT was scrapped at LKM Recycling Sittingbourne. [ citation needed ]

Asset Inspection Train LUL.jpg

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterloo & City line</span> London Underground line

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central line (London Underground)</span> London Underground line

The Central line is a London Underground line that runs through central London, from Epping, Essex, in the north-east to Ealing Broadway and West Ruislip in west London. Printed in red on the Tube map, the line serves 49 stations over 46 miles (74 km), making it the system's longest line. It is one of only two lines on the Underground network to cross the Greater London boundary, the other being the Metropolitan line. One of London's deep-level railways traversing narrow tunnels, Central line trains are smaller than those on British main lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bakerloo line</span> London Underground line

The Bakerloo line is a London Underground line that runs from Harrow & Wealdstone in suburban north-west London to Elephant & Castle in south London, via the West End. Printed in brown on the Tube map, it serves 25 stations, 15 of which are underground, over 23.2 kilometres (14.4 mi). It runs partly on the surface and partly through deep-level tube tunnels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Underground 1973 Stock</span> Type of rolling stock used on the London Underground Piccadilly line

The London Underground 1973 Stock is a type of rolling stock used on the Piccadilly line of the London Underground. It was introduced into service in 1975 with the extension of the line to Hatton Cross, followed by a further extension to Heathrow Central in 1977. A total of 86 six-car trains were built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Underground 1959 Stock</span>

The 1959 Tube Stock was a type of London Underground tube train constructed in the late 1950s. They were intended for use on the Piccadilly line, but also saw use on several other tube lines. It was the first production tube stock to have unpainted aluminium alloy bodywork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Underground rolling stock</span> Passenger trains that run on the London Underground

London Underground rolling stock includes the electric multiple-unit trains used on the London Underground. These come in two sizes, smaller deep-level tube trains and larger sub-surface trains of a similar size to those on British main lines, both running on standard gauge tracks. New trains are designed for the maximum number of standing passengers and for speed of access to the cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Underground 1938 Stock</span> London Underground tube stock design

The London Underground 1938 Stock was a London Underground tube stock design. A total of 1,121 cars were built by Metro-Cammell and Birmingham RC&W. An additional 173 cars were added to the fleet by the end of 1953, comprising 91 new builds, 76 conversions from Pre-1938 Tube Stock or 1935 Tube Stock, and six unconverted cars of 1935 Tube Stock, and the stock was used on the London Underground until 1988. During their long lives they worked on the Bakerloo, Northern, Piccadilly, East London, Central, and Northern City lines. Ten sets were refurbished and ran on the Isle of Wight as Class 483, making them the oldest passenger rolling stock operating timetabled services on the National Rail network at the time of their withdrawal in January 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Underground 1992 Stock</span> Electric multiple unit used on the Central and Waterloo & City lines of the London Underground

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Underground Standard Stock</span>

The Standard Stock title was applied to a variety of Tube stock built between 1923 and 1934, all of which shared the same basic characteristics, but with some detailed differences. This design is sometimes referred to as 1923 Tube Stock, 1923 Stock, or Pre 1938 Stock. Most of the Standard Stock was built to replace the first generation of "Gate Stock" Tube trains or to provide additional trains for extensions built in the 1920s and early 1930s. Standard Stock cars consisted of motor cars, with a driver's cab, behind which was a "switch compartment" occupying approximately one-third of the length of the car, plus trailer cars and "control trailers", with a driving cab but no motor. All were equipped with air operated sliding doors. The guard's door on the earlier trains was a manually operated, inward-opening hinged door.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the London Underground</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Underground 1983 Stock</span> Train used on the Jubilee line from 1984–1998

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Underground 1967 Stock</span> Train sets

The London Underground 1967 Stock was a type of deep-level train that operated on the Victoria line of the London Underground from the line's opening on 1 September 1968 until 30 June 2011. It was also used on the Central line between Woodford and Hainault between 21 February 1968 and 1984, as the same automatic train operation (ATO) system was used on both lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Underground 2009 Stock</span> An electric multiple unit used on the Victoria line of the London Underground

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References

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  15. "Collection - The Cab Yard". The South Wales Loco Cab Preservation Group. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
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