First S stock in service on monday

Well you couldn't get affectionate on an 'S' regardless of orientation; the whole train would see _{and hear} you!

Given that train can't operate the whole line yet, was there any purpose in introducing it yet other than maybe the political advantage of seeing the train in action early?

You have to remember that there's a lot of change involved.

For starters not all of the Met's drivers are trained yet - in fact the number done so so far is quite small. Then there's the train technicians - they all have to be trained and brought up to speed, and they'll be going through a steep learning curve not only because the S's and A's are very different but as the S's enter service they'll no doubt develop defects etc which may well be a whole new ball game for them.

All of this training has to be managed so that those who go through it first don't have too long in which to forget it all before applying it; equally you cannot just go full steam ahead without everybody being trained and up to speed.

Station staff will also need to be briefed with regard to detraining methods and service control staff need to know certain things too.

Then there's the infrastructure; things like platforms, buffers, signals, and the track. They all need to be adjusted and there has been the odd bit of slippage on that front here and there.

This is a massive project and is far more complicated than simply plonking a new train on the track and off it goes. It has got to be managed in stages otherwise it just wouldn't happen.

Right; there's no competition with the Piccadilly or Chiltern services.

I got excited when seeing a S stock with the adverts on the windows this morning at Neasden (again). I noticed a few curious looks from other passengers as well!

Does any have times for S stock in passenger service?
I see the original post siad its 10:31 + 12:50 from Wembley Park, I was wondering if this is still the case, and if there was any later trips?

SPOT ON.

Also worth pointing out, that LUL have not accepted the first series train.

Putting it into service as a gimmick is one thing, signing for it and saying as it perfect without any flaws, and worth millions on pounds is another matter.....

What is the white spot next to the m-door car number for? I would assume de-icing but being block trains shouldn't this be on both ends?

I don't see it as a gimmick at all. Running the train in passenger service is all part of the necessary testing regime - you cannot test how a train will behave in passenger service without running it in passenger service. You can simulate all you like, and that will form the basis, but ultimately humans are neither rational creatures not completely predictable. This is also, I suspect, part of the reason for not advertising specific times it will run (in addition to those already mentioned). If it turns up as a normal service train then then the vast majority of the passengers on board it will treat it as they would any other service train. This is exactly how it will be for >99.9% of its working life, and so these are the passenger behaviours that LU want to get experience of. When you have a train full of enthusiasts who have waited specifically for that the train, the behaviours they exhibit will not be anywhere near as useful as the ones they want and need to complete the testing.

I would regard the publicised runs on August 2nd - the 'new air conditioned train now in service' - as a bit of a gimmick: in many ways more a photo opportunity for Boris, than being in proper public service, which I would say will be when MetControl and colleagues (i.e. the operators) can direct its use, as just another train in place of an A-stock.

I think a better way of regarding what it's doing now (AIUI) is Beta testing - exposing it to real passengers...