Condition of Bakerloo line stock

Looking through my notes from various TfL papers, i have noted down the following for the RVAR compliance:

- First wheelchair bay May 2019, last Nov 2020.
- First PIS Jan 2020, Last May 2021.

Has anyone seen these wheelchair bays on new trains, are they indeed being introduced slowly?

Also, also news on the PIS...we should see the first in 6-8 weeks now I guess, but I'm wondering if these will be old-style scrolling displays like the Jubilee line or more modern displays like the Class 345s/Overground with the ability to show disruption. Any info? I'm hoping for the latter nowadays.

Correct, no Bakerloo line sets are RVAR compliant are the moment, in service or otherwise. Work continues, but this far it has just been life extension works.

There are no stations on the line that are fully accessible to those in a wheelchair, but there are several that are partially step-free (e.g. same-direction interchange is available at Oxford Circus, Baker Street and from Queens Park northwards). RVAR is about much more than just people in wheelchairs though.

Papers for the 2020/25 TfL Business Plan show that the Bakerloo line expects Siemens trains between 2027 and 2030, subject to funding, but the 72TS will require life extension works 2024-27 in any case.

Even though I finally got to travel on the B'loo this past week, I feel that they are the dungiest trains on the network.

The efficient LED lighting releases energy for the passenger info systems to be fitted, etc. Presume LED lights also have longer life to cut maintenance costs.

Presumably having done one, the rest will be a lot cheaper and faster since they know more or less how to do it now (excluding variation between trains)

Would this be the unit that has been out of service for some time, ex-collision repair - 3238-4238-4338-3338 ?

It is indeed. Repaired at acton, then had the life extension work done, then LED mod I believe.

The stock has a relatively easy life by underground standards and has just had a load of work done to improve it. Further modifications are planned. Don’t be fooled by their age, they are good solid trains, they don’t make them this this anymore.....

It won’t surprise me if they reach 60 years old!

Plus they’ve had the benefit of ample spares availability, first in the form of the 72Mk1 stock off the Northern, then from the 67 stock of the Vic. I’d say given current events it’s now highly likely the 72 stock will reach 60.

It does make me smile hearing everyone speak of how good the 72 stock is. On the Northern those staff who remember them will roll their eyes when the “72s” are mentioned, with everyone without exception having their horror stories to tell, particularly in respect of brakes where everyone had the experience of a train being okay for nine stops and then going haywire on the tenth and nearly causing an overshoot. By comparison you’ll never hear anyone complaining about 59 stock. How much of the Northern’s issues were down to maintenance is a matter for conjecture, and no doubt some of these issues have been cured over time. However I agree with the general sentiment - just to have lasted to the age they already are means there must be something good about them!

C Stock were the same, until modified with the ‘deadman cut-out switch’, although called something rather irreverent by crews!

The 2016/17 base business case for a new fleet for four lines was compared against a "Do Minimum" case of a deferred and de-scoped "Austerity" upgrade package in the late 2030s and early 2040s providing only a one-for-one replacement of the current fleet, or a 15 years delay, which would require a short to medium term programme of expenditure to maintain the existing fleets' safe and reliable service until replacement.
However, the 2018/19 Business Case was updated to now compare with a "Do Nothing" case which no longer assumed that investment funding becomes available. Expenditure to maintain the existing fleet's safe and reliable service could therefore continue into the long-term. With no service increase to meet growing demand, and therefore growing congestion, this option would result in negative passenger benefits, revenue loss, and increased operating expenses. In the event the Piccadilly line train order was placed, but the "Do Nothing" case may now apply to the Bakerloo, resulting in an ageing train fleet which could rival achievements on the Isle of Wight with its current operation of 1938 tube stock.

Tom is referring to a FIS Fault Islolating Switch, on pre- ‘72 and C Stock found in the middle of trains at the coupling point to divide a train electrically. On ‘72 and C Stock this was conveniently relocated into the leading cab.

The ‘other’ FIS was named the ‘F*** It Switch!