London Underground 1973 Stock
Encyclopedia
The 1973 Tube Stock operates on the Piccadilly line
of the London Underground
and was introduced in 1975 for the opening of the extension to Hatton Cross (ultimately to Heathrow Central in 1977).
in Birmingham
. They entered service between 1975 and 1977 and were later refurbished by Bombardier Transportation
. The stock was refurbished between 1996 and 2001; the last unrefurbished train was despatched from Northfields depot in early 2001 before re-entering service in July of that year. In 2005 an upgrade was made to the seats involving the royal blue seat moquette. Like all London Underground
trains, they operate on a four-rail 630 V DC power system.
's 1973 stock trains are kept in depots at Cockfosters
in the north-east and Northfields in the west. They are painted in the London Underground
corporate livery - blue, white and red, although red is in a slightly darker shade than on other types.
76 1973 stock trains are required for peak Piccadilly Line
service.
, 1959 Stock
and the (seven) 1938 Stock
trains formerly used on the Piccadilly line. The opening of the extension from Hounslow West
to Heathrow Central
necessitated the construction of new trains, which would also need to be suitable for passengers with large amounts of luggage. The trains thus have extra space by the doors to allow for the luggage of passengers traveling to Heathrow Airport. The 1956/1959 Stock was subsequently transferred to the Northern line
and the 1938 Stock trains were scrapped.
The stock was fitted with a male non-standard type of Digital Voice Announcer (DVA).
Rather than other lines, which use wheel counters or GPS to automatically provide announcements, the 1973 stock announcements had to be operated manually by the driver keying in a unique code. This being rather cumbersome, most drivers made their own announcements, if at all. In November 2006, the system was changed to an automated announcer (Julie Berry) with a simultaneous upgrade to the dot matrix displays in the carriages. The driver can also select two settings "commuter" and "tourist". In addition to this, the driver can add extra announcements through a code for example "please stand clear of the doors" or "Let customers off the train first please"
In addition, the "alights" are missed out of the "commuter" setting.
The "Alight" sections include:
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
: "The Royal National Institute of the Blind"
Russell Square tube station
: "The British Museum"
Covent Garden tube station
: "London's Transport Museum"
Green Park tube station
: "Buckingham Palace"
Knightsbridge tube station
: "Harrods"
South Kensington tube station
: "The museums and Royal Albert Hall"
Earls Court tube station: "Earls Court Exhibition Centre"
Holborn, Knightsbridge and Barons Court Stations are examples of stations which have an exclusive announcement due to their gaps: "Please mind the gap between the train and the platform."
In December 2007, the Piccadilly Line added St Pancras International to its dot matrix display and Digital Voice Announcer (DVA). The reading is as follows: "This is Kings Cross St Pancras. Change here for the Victoria, Northern, Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan and Circle Lines and national and international rail services".
In March 2008, the system went through another change - it has been the second announcer system to have the feature of saying "Please mind the gap between the train and platform" at the station before any other announcement, e.g.: "Please mind the gap between the train and the platform. This is Barons Court. Change for the District Line
. This is a Piccadilly Line service to Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 and 5"
Additionally Hatton Cross and Hounslow West now plays an announcement to inform passengers about how to reach terminal 4 or 5 depending on the service.
In 2010 the announcer system should have included the Circle Line from Hammersmith as it is shown on the map. However, as of February 2011, the Circle Line is still not mentioned by the onboard announcements.
Subsequently, London Underground invited Alstom
, Bombardier
and Siemens
to develop a new concept of lightweight, low-energy, semi-articulated train for the deep-level lines, provisionally called "Evo" (for 'evolution'). So far only Siemens has publicised an outline design, which would feature air-conditioning and would also have battery power enabling the train to run on to the next station if fourth-rail power were lost. It would have a lower floor and 11% higher passenger capacity than the present tube stock.
There would be a weight saving of 30 tonnes, and the trains would be 17% more energy-efficient with air-conditioning included, or 30% more energy-efficient without it. The intention is that these new trains would eventually operate on the Bakerloo, Central, Piccadilly and Waterloo & City lines, meaning a replacement of the 1973 stock
Each train is made up of two units of three cars:
DM - T - UNDM + UNDM - T - DM
Some units are also formed with a second DM in place of the UNDM - these are known as "double ended" units. A Driving motor car (DM) has a driver's cab and traction equipment. A trailer car (T) has neither cab nor traction equipment. An Uncoupling Non-driving motor car (UNDM) has traction equipment without the driving cab, though it has control for purposes of uncoupling and shunting
.
All trains in passenger service operate as two units, trains are only permitted to move as a single unit in depots. However one single double ended unit was used to operate the peak-hour Aldwych branch
shuttle service, until the branch closed in 1994.
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Piccadilly Line
The Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
of the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
and was introduced in 1975 for the opening of the extension to Hatton Cross (ultimately to Heathrow Central in 1977).
Construction
A total of 88 trains were built in 1972-75 by Metro CammellMetro Cammell
The Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company was a Birmingham, England based manufacturer of railway carriages and wagons, based in Saltley and subsequently Washwood Heath....
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. They entered service between 1975 and 1977 and were later refurbished by Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
. The stock was refurbished between 1996 and 2001; the last unrefurbished train was despatched from Northfields depot in early 2001 before re-entering service in July of that year. In 2005 an upgrade was made to the seats involving the royal blue seat moquette. Like all London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
trains, they operate on a four-rail 630 V DC power system.
Operations
The Piccadilly linePiccadilly Line
The Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
's 1973 stock trains are kept in depots at Cockfosters
Cockfosters
Cockfosters is a suburb of North London, lying partly in the London Borough of Enfield and partly in the London Borough of Barnet. The counties of Hertfordshire and Middlesex respectively are still used in postal addresses.The name has been recorded as far back as 1524, and is thought to be either...
in the north-east and Northfields in the west. They are painted in the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
corporate livery - blue, white and red, although red is in a slightly darker shade than on other types.
76 1973 stock trains are required for peak Piccadilly Line
Piccadilly Line
The Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
service.
Former rolling stock
The 1973 Stock was built to replace the 1956 StockLondon Underground 1956 Stock
Before mass production of the 1959 tube stock, three 1956 Tube Stock units were built as prototypes by Birmingham RC&W, Gloucester RC&W and Metro-Cammell. These units were tested on the Piccadilly Line and remained in service after production trains were introduced...
, 1959 Stock
London Underground 1959 Stock
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...
and the (seven) 1938 Stock
London Underground 1938 Stock
The 1938 Tube Stock is a London Underground tube stock design. The trains were built by Metro-Cammell and Birmingham RC&W, and were used on the London Underground until 1988. During their long lives they worked on the Bakerloo, Piccadilly, Northern, East London and Central lines...
trains formerly used on the Piccadilly line. The opening of the extension from Hounslow West
Hounslow West tube station
Hounslow West is a London Underground station in Hounslow in west London. The station is on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly Line, between Hatton Cross and Hounslow Central stations. The station is located on Bath Road about 600m from the junction of Bath Road, Great West Road and Great...
to Heathrow Central
Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 tube station
Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 is a London Underground station at Heathrow Airport on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly Line. The station is situated in Travelcard Zone 6.-History:...
necessitated the construction of new trains, which would also need to be suitable for passengers with large amounts of luggage. The trains thus have extra space by the doors to allow for the luggage of passengers traveling to Heathrow Airport. The 1956/1959 Stock was subsequently transferred to the Northern line
Northern Line
The Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
and the 1938 Stock trains were scrapped.
Announcer system
Rather than other lines, which use wheel counters or GPS to automatically provide announcements, the 1973 stock announcements had to be operated manually by the driver keying in a unique code. This being rather cumbersome, most drivers made their own announcements, if at all. In November 2006, the system was changed to an automated announcer (Julie Berry) with a simultaneous upgrade to the dot matrix displays in the carriages. The driver can also select two settings "commuter" and "tourist". In addition to this, the driver can add extra announcements through a code for example "please stand clear of the doors" or "Let customers off the train first please"
In addition, the "alights" are missed out of the "commuter" setting.
The "Alight" sections include:
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
: "The Royal National Institute of the Blind"
Russell Square tube station
Russell Square tube station
Russell Square is a London Underground station on Bernard Street, Bloomsbury in the London Borough of Camden. It is a small but busy station, often used by office workers and by tourists who are staying in Bloomsbury's numerous hotels. The station is a Grade II listed building.-History:The station...
: "The British Museum"
Covent Garden tube station
Covent Garden tube station
Covent Garden is a London Underground station in Covent Garden. It is on the Piccadilly Line between Leicester Square and Holborn. The station is a Grade II listed building, on the corner of Long Acre and James Street...
: "London's Transport Museum"
Green Park tube station
Green Park tube station
Green Park tube station is a London Underground station located on the north side of Green Park, close to the intersection of Piccadilly and the pedestrian Queen's Walk...
: "Buckingham Palace"
Knightsbridge tube station
Knightsbridge tube station
Knightsbridge tube station is a London Underground station in Knightsbridge , The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is on the Piccadilly Line between South Kensington and Hyde Park Corner, and is in Travelcard Zone 1.-History:...
: "Harrods"
South Kensington tube station
South Kensington tube station
South Kensington is a London Underground station in Kensington, west London. It is served by the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines. On the District and Circle lines, the station is between Gloucester Road and Sloane Square, and on the Piccadilly Line, it is between Gloucester Road and...
: "The museums and Royal Albert Hall"
Earls Court tube station: "Earls Court Exhibition Centre"
Holborn, Knightsbridge and Barons Court Stations are examples of stations which have an exclusive announcement due to their gaps: "Please mind the gap between the train and the platform."
In December 2007, the Piccadilly Line added St Pancras International to its dot matrix display and Digital Voice Announcer (DVA). The reading is as follows: "This is Kings Cross St Pancras. Change here for the Victoria, Northern, Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan and Circle Lines and national and international rail services".
In March 2008, the system went through another change - it has been the second announcer system to have the feature of saying "Please mind the gap between the train and platform" at the station before any other announcement, e.g.: "Please mind the gap between the train and the platform. This is Barons Court. Change for the District Line
District Line
The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
. This is a Piccadilly Line service to Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 and 5"
Additionally Hatton Cross and Hounslow West now plays an announcement to inform passengers about how to reach terminal 4 or 5 depending on the service.
In 2010 the announcer system should have included the Circle Line from Hammersmith as it is shown on the map. However, as of February 2011, the Circle Line is still not mentioned by the onboard announcements.
Future replacement
The 1973 Stock was scheduled to be replaced in 2014 by a new build of trains, but the tender for this project was cancelled in 2010 before any company had bid for the work.Subsequently, London Underground invited Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
, Bombardier
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
and Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
to develop a new concept of lightweight, low-energy, semi-articulated train for the deep-level lines, provisionally called "Evo" (for 'evolution'). So far only Siemens has publicised an outline design, which would feature air-conditioning and would also have battery power enabling the train to run on to the next station if fourth-rail power were lost. It would have a lower floor and 11% higher passenger capacity than the present tube stock.
There would be a weight saving of 30 tonnes, and the trains would be 17% more energy-efficient with air-conditioning included, or 30% more energy-efficient without it. The intention is that these new trains would eventually operate on the Bakerloo, Central, Piccadilly and Waterloo & City lines, meaning a replacement of the 1973 stock
Numbers
| DM | DM | UNDM | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 - 253 | 864 - 897 | 300 - 453 | 500 - 696 |
Unit formation
DM - T - UNDM + UNDM - T - DM
Some units are also formed with a second DM in place of the UNDM - these are known as "double ended" units. A Driving motor car (DM) has a driver's cab and traction equipment. A trailer car (T) has neither cab nor traction equipment. An Uncoupling Non-driving motor car (UNDM) has traction equipment without the driving cab, though it has control for purposes of uncoupling and shunting
Shunting
Shunting is an event in the neuron which occurs when an excitatory postsynaptic potential and an inhibitory postsynaptic potential are occurring close to each other on a dendrite, or are both on the soma of the cell....
.
All trains in passenger service operate as two units, trains are only permitted to move as a single unit in depots. However one single double ended unit was used to operate the peak-hour Aldwych branch
Aldwych tube station
Aldwych is a closed London Underground station in the City of Westminster, originally opened as Strand in 1907. It was the terminus and only station on the short Piccadilly line branch from Holborn that was a relic of the merger of two railway schemes. The disused station building is close to the...
shuttle service, until the branch closed in 1994.
External links
- Transport for London - 1973 stock specifications
- Tubeprune - 1973 Tube Stock
- London Transport Museum Photographic Archive
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