Future of the Bakerloo Line?

I'm sure that 1967 stock was stripped of parts before scrap. But how much do you keep? When TfL introduced 2009 stock, they had plans for new trains for the Bakerloo from 2015 onwards!

Very true, London Underground do not have infinite space to store things indefinitely

Plenty of spares were obtained from the 1967/72mk 1 stock for the Bakerloo Line, in particular bogie frames motors and equipment cases, however subtle differences made things more awkward as the 1972 MK2's were metric and the 67 & 72mk1 imperial, also the 67s were built for ATO and the Mk1s not & MK2 were OPO
A lot of spares were recovered but storage of items is not easy, and space and rotation of spares is important, as well a dry warm storage to protect equipment from rust and corrosion
in the end many items of spares recovered have been subsequently scrapped, as could not be stored to prevent deteriorating.

The latest Underground News (September 2023) has the following on the Bakerloo:




I don't know who their source is, but they are very well informed.

If a two-year closure is politically unpalatable, what other options are there?
Obviously a longer, more expensive series of blockades but would the trains last that long?

Could any other stock be cascaded to the line without requiring as much depot work? If this option was taken then a follow-on order for 2024 stock could be made for a different (presumably the stock donor) line. Where would they come from? The only options are the 73, 92, 95 and 96 stock. The 73s are being replaced for a reason and they're also I think too long for the line, all the others would need conversion to tripcock and conventional signalling operation but given they all initially ran this way this is likely possible. The 95 and 96 stock cars are longer than 1973 stock cars so if the latter doesn't fit neither will either of the former, which leaves only the life expired 1992 stock (which are themselves ~16 cm longer than 72 stock DMs and ~27cm longer than trailer and UNDM cars). A 6-car 1992 stock train is 16m shorter than a 7-car 1972 stock train, 8 cars of the former are 17m longer so would definitely require SDO and possibly signalling alterations. I don't know if its possible to modify the 1992 stock to run with some three-car sets but if it is that would be near perfect length wise being only about 17cm longer than the current trains which I'm guessing will only require minor adjustments if any, assuming the cars fit.

If/when the extension is built this will come with a new depot (although iirc this will also be single-ended) which will be designed to cope with modern stock as best it can, but I don't know that it would be capacious enough to service the entire line while conversion of the other depots were converted suggesting an extended period of running with a mixed fleet.

Edit: another option would be an order for a new type of train that is compatible with the existing line and depots. Obviously this would not be compatible with the goal of standardisation, offer limited scope for upgrading the line, and require the time-consuming procurement process and train design and testing. This option would be more expensive in the long term (due to lack of standardisation). In the short term it would be more expensive (presumably) than buying a fleet of 2024 stock for the line, I don't know if it would be more expensive when you factor in the extensive closure and depot works.

Likely need for signals to be repositioned for the sight lines from the new cab. Ideally in a blockade-style scenario this would include moving signals and track circuit boundaries rather than the compromise solution of co-acting signals and delayed replacement controls we so often see.

Would London Rd be reconfigured.At the moment there are several roads that are eiher or roads,if one road is occupied it fouls the other road.

Would closure of the Stonebridge Park depot spell the end of Stonebridge Park terminators?

Stonebridge Depot was built as stage I around that site which was to be acquired when redundant to its then use. The intention was to stable all trains for the line there. I never heard that mentioned again, and the area was repurposed and is still in regular use. To acquire it now would require agreement on alternative sites for the current operations, and the time to provide those alternatives before a start is made on a new Bakerloo depot. The new Bakerloo depot could also use another site along the line, presumably as far a Watford if necessary, but nowhere is vacant so the same timeline would apply. Quickest and cheapest is a closure for rebuild on the current site.

Dont know if it’s changed since I was at Stonebridge in the 90s,was examination every 14 days,shed day every 36 week & programme lift around every 2 years.

The Bakerloo still has two former depots. That at London Road suffered bomb damage in WWII and would need new roofing. Queen's Park south shed accommodates four trains. Could either of these be adapted to accommodate exams and shed days whilst the current depot is closed for reconstruction? That would leave only the programme lift which may be one train a fortnight, and need to move between battery locos over TBTC signalling to Neasden, Ruislip or Acton Works. The programme lift is usually dropped near to fleet replacement. This would depend on the current trains remaining serviceable, and stabling at Stonebridge Park which might interfere with depot works. A service limited to south of Queen's Park would reduce the number of trains to be maintained.

The Central and Piccadilly will be raised from the usual 630v once the upgraded/new Stock fully enters service.
Works on substations already ongoing.

Central line traction supply was upgraded for 92TS to cater for the higher performance compared to 62TS that the ATC re-signalling enabled. But this wasn't a 750V upgrade.

The Bakerloo has been a backwater of LU for a long while. If it receives new trains, it will be the first time in some 90 years! Even then the 1938 stock arrived as 6-car trains, and was made up to 7-cars by inserting a modified standard stock car. There just don't seem to be suitable trains to transfer from other lines this time.