S stock delivery & introduction - discussion

Yesterday and today, 20 S-stocks in service and (so far this week) performing well with few problems...

Hey Metman, what's with this sudden burst of enthusiasm for the S Stock? Have you had a change of heart?

Won't be that long until 50% of the service is S stock then? Another 2 - 3 weeks perhaps?

Was there ever, or is there a date set for the last A stock in passenger service and if so is this likely to be adhered to?

If we say 2 A-stocks will be disposed of every week (which won't happen, trust me) that puts us into May.

As that is unlikely, and as most things will STOP completely by the run-up to the Olympics (from roughly mid-May) there will be A-stocks with us until later in the year.

However... If somewhere (hidden from those who have to run the railway) there is a target for the last A-stock being out of service, then, like all other S-stock targets, it will be met, even if that means cancellations to the service because (although there are A-stocks available) there are no A-stocks "available."

P.S. There are currently no "official" S7s available for service, and no Train Operators (of the area of operation) trained to drive S-stock. There are S-stock (training) paths in the current H&C Timetable. S7s are now "signed off" to work in passenger service between Hammersmith and Barking. I have no idea when a "proper" S7 is due to arrive or when the first Train Operator is due to be qualified to drive one. I'll leave that to be either answered by those in the know or worked out by those who can work it out for themselves...

Sounds about right, or at least it doesnt sound suprising! So, personally speaking, is this what a world class metro allegedly trying to put passenger service in front of engineers wims would do? And, professionally speaking, whats the justification?


Its getting worrying just how arrogant and detatched some faceless bureaucrats within management are becoming. One can but hope members of the GLA Transport Committee are made aware of just what dire porposals might be being discussed already

Thanks for the info about the S7s MC it'll be interesting to see what transpires there.

Well I'm happy for S8 production be delayed and 'proper' S7s to start coming down replacing C stock.

+2!

+3
more than happy to see C stocks get scrapped instead of A stocks

Feel sorry for the C stock here but ive got to agree. They are far more knackered

Is this really the case? I rarely go on them so I can't speak with any authority but I don't recall the clonking sounds from the bogies which dominate so many A Stock rides.

Having travelled on a few of each variety today (S, C and A) the only problems with the S were that the driver didn't set up the 'Farringdon is closed' message properly, on the way back it was done by the driver straight after leaving Barbican but on the way in the CIS screens said The next station is Farringdon, then the driver suddenly played a 'This station is closed' announcement when we were in the platform of Farringdon station - the first announcement he made about it since Baker Street!

C stock had a sticky door and the PA was rubbish (then again, so was that aforementioned PA at BST!) and I leaned my head against the window encasing the door mechanism on an A stock and it almost fell off! oops

I think the C stock bogies were actually replaced 10-15 years ago (I could be wrong!). The A stock bogies on the other hand have always been rubbish, even to the extent that they were cracking after a short time on the line!

I don't think it is the bogies that creek though, I believe it is the dampers on the buffing gear.

@alex F, to be honest, people are entitled to their opinion.

Wouldn't say its hatred of the S stock.... just a seasoned bit of NIMBYism

Anyway, the beauty of putting a few S7s or even S8-1s on the H&C now would be an increase in a tight fleet allocation. No C's would necessarily need to be scrapped now, and the A's would last a few more months. Everyone is happy!