72 Stock to Serve Until 2030's

Most of what passengers care about is what they see and experience above the sole bar, which can be previewed, tested and refined using static mockups much cheaper than procuring one-off prototype units.

"two wheelchair bays in each carriage"

ot
Given the platform curves and heights on the bloo, this is humourous.
/ot

More relevantly, how will this be accomplished in the cars with transverse seating - presumably to minimise work one side will be removed totally? Where will the equipment go currently under the seats? Sounds in some ways possibly more involved than the 90s refurb.

Presumably that is still the intention - 14 wheelchair bays in a train (ie 2 per car) would surely be a record for LU

It's not just trains though, with 2 wheelchair bays per car you need level access to each car. This means you need at least 7 humps (or possibly dips on the platforms shared with LO, increasing the gap to those trains) per platform or to raise the entire platform (more than a few and the humps could start to make the platform less safe, particularly for the infirm) and that isn't going to come cheap (and raising an entire platform will be disruptive. If the next generation of trains have the same floor height then the money spent wont be wasted, but humps will either be wasted or restrict the next generation of stock to the same door spacing.

Looking at a map there are only three Bakerloo line stations marked as having step-free access to the platform (Willesden Junction, Wembley Central and Harrow & Wealdstone), but such access is coming to Paddington when Crossrail opens and there are step-free interchanges at Baker Street, Oxford Circus and Queen's Park so that is 12 platforms at minimum. I also remember something about step-free access at Waterloo, but can't remember if that included the Bakerloo line or not, so possibly 14.

But surely the trains are not wheelchair accessible if there is step to get in

As I noted above there are at least 12 platforms that are accessible to wheelchair users.

hmmm reading the above I will tell my wheel chair bound friend that it is best to stick with the taxi.

I do wonder if we discriminate against more people by removing seats...

the space will also be used for pushchairs and heavy luggage.

Oops! Yes, sorry.

By North end trailer cars do you mean the 45XX cars?

There's is currently one on the test track at South Ealing

I suppose if you don't use the line very often it seems a bit third world down there. In effect the line was largely replaced by the Jubilee and left to it's own with little investment for many years. I'm a regular passenger and have been for decades so it seems normal to me though I notice the difference when I'm on other lines (though frankly the central is not much better).

The 72 stock has done a good job on the whole and is superior to the shoddy 92 stock in my opinion.

None are done yet. I can ask around for some expected dates.