London Underground

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Lore & Background

The Victoria line is the most intensively used line on the Underground, in terms of the average number of journeys per kilometre. In the early 2000s, reliability was decreasing due to the age of the 1960s-era Automatic Train Operation (ATO) system and the 1967 Stock. Following the London Underground Public Private Partnership in 2003, the Metronet consortium began a substantial upgrade. Bombardier Transportation would design, build and maintain the new rolling stock. In the 1990s, London Underground designed an open gangway 'Space Train' with walk through carriages, but due to technical and financial risk, Metronet ordered conventional trains from Bombardier in 2003, originally planned to enter service in 2006 at a cost of £750 million. The design was finalised in September 2004. Manufacture of two pre-production trains began in early 2005. From 21 July to 4 August 2006, a mock-up was on show at Euston Square Gardens. The first pre-production train was not delivered to London until May 2007. Metronet collapsed in July 2007; Transport for London took ownership in May 2008. The second pre-production train entered service on 21 July 2009, leaving Northumberland Park depot at 23:00 and forming the 23:55 service between Seven Sisters and Brixton. Main production commenced at the end of 2009. One train entered passenger service every two weeks from February 2010. By mid-2011, sufficient trains were in service to allow withdrawal of the 1967 Stock, the last of which ran on 30 June 2011. By July 2011, the full fleet was in service. During introduction, teething issues caused disruption: on 21 July 2010, a train broke down at Pimlico, ambulances rescued almost 3,000 trapped passengers; on 26 July 2010, another broke down at Oxford Circus, suspending all Victoria line services. Transport for London cited software failures and over-sensitive door sensors. By the mid 2010s, the trains and signalling system displayed exceptional reliability, with the 2009 Stock travelling around six times further between failures than the 1967 Stock. Signalling and track upgrades allowed frequency to increase to 36 trains per hour, the most frequent in the UK and one of the most frequent in Europe.

Reader's Guide

The 2009 Stock was built as part of the Victoria line upgrade in conjunction with new signalling, designed to decrease journey times, improve reliability, and increase passenger capacity. Compared to the 1967 Stock, the train has improved acceleration and the same top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). Braking performance is improved through regenerative brakes, which save energy. Originally intended to have all-motored axles, it was later decided that 75% of motored axles would be sufficient, saving weight and reducing project costs by around £10 million, about 3.5% of the overall cost. The new train allows a decrease in journey times between stations by 8% and overall journey times by 16%. At peak times, 43 trains should be in service, an increase of six over the 1967 Stock. The trains are 40 mm (1.57 in) wider than the 1967 Stock to take advantage of the Victoria line's slightly larger loading gauge, preventing them from leaving the Victoria line except by road. They were the longest deep-level tube trains on the system when introduced, at 133.275 m (437 ft 3 in), 3 m (9 ft 10 in) longer than the 1967 Stock. Built using Bombardier's FICAS technology, they have a thinner bodyshell and more internal space, with a 19% increase in capacity over the 1967 Stock, seating 252 and with standing space for an estimated 1,196 passengers. Electrically powered doors are wider for easier boarding and alighting. They are the first London Underground trains designed since the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations, with multi-purpose areas with tip-up seats and space for wheelchairs and pushchairs, offset centre door poles for wheelchair access, CCTV cameras, and dot-matrix displays. The train maintains a fixed height above the rail regardless of loading or wheel wear. Unlike most other London Underground trains, the Combined Traction/Brake Controller is on the right-hand side of the cab, as most Victoria line platforms are on the right. The cab has an external side door for easier driver changes, and is fitted with dedicated air-conditioning. Each train is made up of two 4-car units of the configuration Driving Motor–Trailer–Non Driving Motor–Uncoupling (Shunting) Non Driving Motor, coupled back-to-back with mechanical-only Scharfenberg couplers. The trains are maintained at Northumberland Park Depot, with Bombardier staff on site for warranty parts replacement.

Did You Know?

• The 2009 Stock is the first new deep level tube stock on the Underground network since the 1996 Stock entered service on the Jubilee line in 1997.
• The trains are 40 mm (1.57 in) wider than the 1967 Stock, preventing them from leaving the Victoria line except by road.
• During the morning rush hour on 21 July 2010, a train broke down at Pimlico, and ambulances had to rescue almost 3,000 trapped passengers.
• By the mid 2010s, the 2009 Stock travelled around six times further between failures than the 1967 Stock.
• The trains have a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) and use regenerative brakes to save energy.