LONDON | DLR, Underground, Tramlink

[hkskyline]

London Underground

Station Upgrades

Kings Cross St Pancras Tube Station Western Ticket Hall

Opened: 28th of May, 2006.

This was built to cope with the extra demand placed on the Tube station due to the opening of a new Eurostar services from Kings Cross St Pancras. This ticket hall primarily serves the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan sub-surface lines.

The ticket hall is of cut-and-cover construction underneath part of the historic St Pancras station, and therefore there is a contrast between the red bricked mainline station and the modern white and glass finishes of the new ticket hall. The ticket hall also lead to the opening of a new street entrances for the tube station on the busy Euston Road. The ticket hall is connected to the refurbished St Pancras station via brick arches, and to the original main ticket hall of the tube station (which itself has been refurbished and has new entrances) via a new passageway, all of which is protected from the elements. Passengers enter the refurbished platforms through ticket gates, down stairs on both sides and then enter a spacious area between the platforms. Additionally, there are lifts for the disabled and those with children and shopping.

New Main Ticket Hall Entrances:

freakmarky at Flickr
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New Western Ticket Hall Entrances:

Last Rounds at Flickr
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Kake Pugh at Flickr
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New London Underground Western Ticket Hall:

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James Cridland at Flickr
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Refurbished Sub-Surface platforms:

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Heathrow Terminal 5 Station

Opened: 27th of March, 2008.

This station was built to serve the brand new Heathrow Terminal 5, providing connections direct into Central London on the Piccadilly line and Heathrow Express/Connect services.

The station is shared between the two different services, but they are clearly divided by a glass wall. There are two terminating platforms for Heathrow Express/Connect, and two platforms for the Piccadilly line (one exiting, the other alighting). The station is connected to terminal 5 through a deep glass concourse with escalators and lifts. It was built and funded by BAA, therefore it is not staffed by LU but by airport staff themselves.

Piccadilly line Ticket hall:

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Piccadilly line platforms:

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Shepherd's Bush Tube Station

Opened: 5th of October, 2008.

This station originally opened in 1900. This station had been in a bad state for many years, it was dark and dingy at platform level, had poor access for disabled and the ticket hall was cramped. When plans for Westfield came to fruition it became clear that the station needed to be expanded. TfL said that the escalators needed to be replaced as they were at the end of their life cycle, and they should be replaced before the new shopping centre opens this year. So it was decided to close the station for eight months and at the same time carry out the comprehensive refurbishment.

The refurbished station features a tall glass ticket hall (again, rather uninspiring) with a large entrance opening out onto the shopping centre and the Overground station, and a rather small entrance opening out onto the local area... There are new escalators (that don't sound or look particularly new), that lead to a re-tiled tunnel onto the (also re-tiled) platforms. The tunnels and platforms are tiled in boring white tiles that harp back to the CLR (Central London Railway) days of the Central line, where there were plain white tiles at every station. A video onboard a westbound train entering the station, and then views of the platforms and ticket hall can be found here.

Old entrance:

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Old platforms:

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New street entrance:

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New main entrance:

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New ticket hall:

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New escalators:

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Re-tiled passageways:

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Still unfinished platform:

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Wood Lane Tube Station

Opened: 12th of October, 2008.

Another station opened to service the Westfield Shopping Centre. It is located on the Hammersmith & City line between Shepherd's Bush Market and Latimer Road. It is the first LU station to not have any staffed ticket facilities. I don't know who it was funded by.

The station was designed by Ian Ritchie Architects (the same person who designed Bermondsey tube station) and is located only 250m away from White City Central line station. It features a large ticket hall with mustard coloured shiny panels on the ceilings. Once passing through the ticket gates, there are stairs on the left to the eastbound platforms. To get to the westbound platforms, passengers must pass underneath the brick arches that support the tracks, the ceiling here also has metallic mustard coloured panels. The platforms are side platforms (like most over ground stations on LU) and are unpolished and metallic. They feature windows every once in a while that give an outside view.

Entrance:

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Ticket hall:

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Stairs to eastbound platform:

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Underpass to westbound platform:

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Platforms:

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Kings Cross St Pancras Tube Station Northern Ticket Hall

Opened: 29th of November, 2009.

A new 'Tube ticket hall' was opened on the 29th of November providing direct access from the new section of St Pancras which houses the Thameslink, Midland Mainline, and Ebbsfleet (future Javelin) services to the deep level underground lines (Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria). It also provides quick access to the new Kings Cross concourse set to open in the future.

The new ticket hall is in a similar style to the aforementioned sub-surface ticket hall and features a bank of four escalators leading to new deep level passageways to the deep level lines. The passageways link to the opposite end of the platform to the current passageways meaning the platforms will be more evenly loaded. These new ticket halls mean that Kings Cross now has 4 ticket halls for the tube station alone, double what it had before the works started.

New 'tube' ticket hall:

alicephilippa at Flickr
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New escalators:

alicephilippa at Flickr
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tompagenet at Flickr
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New passageways to deep level lines:

alicephilippa at Flickr
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alexbrn at Flickr
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Train Updates

New Victoria line Trains (London Underground 2009 Stock)

First Passenger Journey: 21st July, 2009.

These trains are needed to replace the current 1967 Stock, which as the name implies, are 40 years old and are the oldest deep level trains in service on LU. The new 8-car trains have better acceleration and braking, are longer (only by 3m), wider (making them the widest "tube" trains), and slightly faster. This, along with a more up-to-date ATO (Automatic Train Operation) system, will allow the Victoria line to carry 20% more passengers than present. The trains also feature better forced ventilation, facilities for the disabled and passenger information. The interior is typical of LU with moquette fabric over cushioned seats, coloured poles, everything is colour coordinated with the line colour (light blue). The first train has began passenger service for evaluation, but they have not properly entered service yet.

Current trains (London Underground 1967 Stock)

Exterior

bloophoenix at Flickr
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Interior

inglian at Flickr
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Video



New trains (London Underground 2009 Stock)

Exterior

CHURCHHILL at Flickr
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Interior

darquati at Flickr
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Video



Flickr video, not sure how to embed...

Other miscellaneous LU shots:























Canary Wharf










Pictures of the Tube taken from the 'Best Subway' thread. All of these were taken from flickr, after trawling through hundreds of photos to find the best ones. I should really ask for permission first, but if anyone asks me to take them down then I will. I'm putting these here because it took me a while to get them all, and I want to revive this thread!

Pre-1900 sub-surface stations (Circle, East London, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines, i.e. the Sub Surface Network, there are however pre-1900 overground 'tube line' stations, these are as a result of existing railway takeovers or line swapping.)

Baker Street, Circle and Hammersmith and City lines platforms:

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Great Portland Street:

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Notting Hill Gate, Circle and District lines platforms:

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Farringdon, Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines platforms to the right, First Capital Connect Thameslink service to the left:

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South Kensington Circle and District lines platform:

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Earl's Court District line platforms:

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Paddington:

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Embankment:

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Barons Court:

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Many pre-1900 suburban stations have these 'country cottage' type of entrances, some of which are left over from existing railway take-overs, they look 'cottagey' perhaps because when they were built many of them were in the countryside!

Southfields:

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Stepney Green:

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Walthamstow Central:

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The platforms usually have an 'upside down picket fence' type of roof as their distinguishing feature.

Woodside Park:

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Barons Court:

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Barkingside:

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Two of the few surviving C&SLR (City and South London Railway, now the Northern line's Bank branch). The first section opened in 1890 and was the first deep level railway in the world, however, the Tower Subway and Thames Tunnel could both be thought of as railways, the Tower Subway was cable hauled, and the Thames Tunnel wasn't originally intended to be a railway tunnel, being converted in the 1860s. The Thames Tunnel was also just a section of the East London Railway (now East London line) whereas the C&SLR was entirely in deep bore tunnels. The C&SLR tunnels are not original, as they were widened in the 1920s. The C&SLR was also one of the first railways in the world to use electric traction. C&SLR stations had plain white tiling on the platforms with a brown band legnthways, none of this tiling remains.

Original narrow island platforms, only two stations are still like this on the network:

Clapham Common:

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Kennington:

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Clapham Common:

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Waterloo station on the Waterloo & City line (originally London and South Western Railway) it was opened in 1898, noticeable in being a cut-and-cover station on a 'tube' line, the rest of the line is deep level. This isn't the original decor:

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Central London Railway stations, built around 1900. The platforms, like the C&SLR, had plain white tiling. It is now the Central line.

Lancaster Gate:

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Queensway:

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Charles Yerks station (Bakerloo, Piccadilly and Northern (Charing Cross branch) lines) Designed by Leslie Green. Most of these were made between 1900-1910. The entrances have distinctive 'ox-blood' tiling for the entrances, and the platforms have unique tile patterns which differ for every station, many of which were unfortunately replaced in the 80s-90s... See below.

Arsenal:

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Chalk Farm:

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Russell Square:

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Holloway Road:

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Holloway Road:

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Covent Garden:

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Chalk Farm:

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Belsize Park:

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Lambeth North:

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1910-1920s stations on the Bakerloo's extention to Queen's Park and the Northern line's extension from Golder's Green to Edgware designed by Stanley A Heaps.

Edgware:

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Hendon Central:

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This is a continuation of the Leslie Green stations and is therefore based on them

Maida Vale:

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Charles Holden art deco stations 1920s-1940s, there are Charles Holden stations on most lines. Some of his stations are reconstructions of existing Central London stations for the equipping of escalators, as all deep level stations were built before escalators were even invented and required lifts and a spiral staircase for emergencies. The rest of his work was reconstructions of suburban overground stations, and brand new suburban stations to encourage development.

Clapham South:

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Wood Green:

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Oakwood:

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Cockfosters:

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East Finchley:

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Harrow-on-the-Hill:

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Kilburn:

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Tooting Bec:

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St James' Park:

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Ealing Common:

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Oakwood:

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Cockfosters:

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Chiswick Park:

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Northfields:

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Art deco escalator lamps, they were first on the Tube in the late twenties, most of them were unfortunately ripped out along with the wooden escalators after the King's Cross Fire in 1987, but a handful remain.

Southgate:

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Contemporary version, the originals were brown:

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This station was modelled on the Moscow Metro after Holden visited it in the 40s.

Gants Hill:

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1950-1960s stations, these are both reconstructions.

Moorgate:

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Euston Square:

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1960s-1970s stations (Victoria line) Each station has a unique motif in the wall recesses behind the benches. Some of them are a bit naff and literal, for example, Brixton has a tonne of bricks as it's motif... Other than that the platforms are practically identical, except for updates over the years: Oxford Circus and Victoria both had their tiles replaced with something just as bland and Oxford Circus and Green Park both no longer have their original motifs... See all the motifs here.

Walthamstow Central:

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Green Park, Victoria line platform:

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Finsbury Park:

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Stockwell:

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1970s-1980s stations (Piccadilly line between Hounslow West and Heathrow Airport, and Jubilee line between Baker Street and Green Park)

Green Park Jubilee line platform:

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Baker Street Jubilee line platform:

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Hatton Cross:

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1980s-1990s stations (most of them are not original designs, most of them are in Central London, unfortunately)

Euston Northern line (Charing Cross branch) platform:

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Angel:

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Green Park Piccadilly line platform:

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Charing Cross Bakerloo line platform:

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Baker Street Bakerloo line platform:

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21st century stations (Mostly Jubilee line between Westminster and Stratford but some old stations that have been modernised in 21st century style)

Waterloo Jubilee line platform:

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London Bridge Jubilee line platform:

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Bermondsey:

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Southwark:

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North Greenwich:

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Southwark:

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Bermondsey:

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Canary Wharf:

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Elephant & Castle:

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Finsbury Park:

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Brixton:

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Last but not least, the trains, the interior decor is usually based on the line's colour, though there are some exceptions because of the Disability Discrimination Act...

Bakerloo line 1972 Stock = 7 short cars

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Central line 1992 Stock = 8 short cars

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Circle/Hammersmith & City/District (Edgware Road - Wimbledon) C Stock = 6 short cars

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District line D Stock = 6 long cars

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Metropolitan line A Stock, Metropolitan = 8 short cars

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Jubilee line 1996 Stock = 7 long cars

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Northern line 1995 Stock = 6 long cars (externally identical to 1996 Stock)

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Piccadilly line 1973 Stock = 6 long cars

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Victoria line 1967 Stock = 8 short cars (externally identical to the 1972 Stock)

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Waterloo & City line 1992 Stock = 4 short cars (externally identical to the 1992 Stock)

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Victoria line 2009 Stock, entered service in 2009 to replace the 1967 Stock. It'll be 8 slightly longer cars. These trains will be slightly (only slightly) larger than existing Tube stock as the Victoria line has slightly larger tunnels, they were built larger as the sixties planners thought that this would reduce air resistance.

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Sub-Surface line Stock (Circle, District, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines) Circle, District Hammersmith & City lines will become 7 short cars (The Circle and Hammersmith and City are 6 short cars, the District 6 long cars, so it'll be the same for the District) Metropolitan will remaine as 8 short cars. These trains will feature air-conditioning and inter-connecting gangways, like Paris Metro line 1. As the Sub-surface lines were built for steam trains, there are sections for the hot air to be expelled. They are expected to enter service in 2010 on the Metropolitan, replacing the much-loved A Stock:

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The S Stock ran for the first time in passenger service on Saturday 31st July 2010... here's my write up.

New Sub-Surface lines Trains (London Underground S Stock)

First Passenger Journey: 31st of July, 2010.

As the A Stock on the Metropolitan line is now 50 years old, new rolling stock is desperately needed. The capacity of the Metropolitan line (and to a lesser effect the rest of the Sub Surface network) is currently limited by old signalling and old trains with low performance (bad acceleration/decceleration). The trains are 8 cars long for the Metropolitan line, and 7 cars long for the rest of the SS network, they are known as S8 Stock and S7 Stock respectively. This means that on the Cicle and Hammersmith & City lines there will be an increase in capacity, as the existing stock is 6 cars long platforms at stations on the western side of the H&C/Circle lines will either be lengthened or selective door operation will be used. The seating layout also differs for the Metropolitan line trains, it will be half transverse and half longitudinal which suits the more commuter-rail-like nature of the line. The 7 car trains for the rest of the SS network will be all longitudinal. These trains are the first on the network to be fully walkthrough, and are also the first to have full air-conditioning. Air-conditioning is possible on the SS network as the tunnels were originally designed with several gaps located in cuttings which allowed the original steam-powered trains to gases. They will also feature 1.3m/s/s acceleration and have a top speed of 62mph/100km/h. The trains will enter service with manual operation on the existing signalling and eventually modern signalling will replace it, taking advantage of the train's increased performance. The total amount of trains will be 191, trains will enter service on the Metropolitan first, then the Circle/Hammersmith & City, and then the District. This is because the District has the most modern rolling stock, which has recently been refurbished.

Current trains (London Underground A Stock)

Exterior

AndrewHA ! at Flickr
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Kurt Raschke at Flickr
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Interior

stephenk1977 at Flickr
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Video





New trains (London Underground 'S8' Stock)

Exterior

Justin Foulger at Flickr
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londonstuff at Flickr
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Interior

londonstuff at Flickr
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londonstuff at Flickr
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Video



And finally, something I thought was interesting...

Difference in size between the Sub-Surface Stock and the Tube Stock, it's the Piccadilly line 1973 Stock and Metropolitan line A Stock side by side on the Uxbridge branch:

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DLR

New DLR Platforms at Stratford

Opened: 18th of June, 2007.

These were needed as the original platform (built when the DLR was first constructed) had insufficient capacity (both in terms of train movements and passenger throughput), was unprotected from the elements, had poor interchange with the Jubilee line and London Overground, and was unable to accommodate 3 car units.

The new platforms have an interesting zig-zag roof with multi-coloured columns, along with a bare metal zig-zag footbridge to the main concourse. There are also 'spotlights' on the floor which look cool at night!

Old platforms (to the left):

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New footbridge to the main concourse:

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New platforms:

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Langdon Park DLR Station

Opened: 9th of December, 2007.

This was built simply to service the local area as there was a long gap between Devons Road and All Saints which was safeguarded for a station in between. Some local development company funded it along with Docklands Light Railway Limited.

Like most DLR stations, it is unstaffed with no ticket gates. It features rather bland platforms with a bizarrely shaped 'surfboard' roof on top of the overbridge.

Entrance:

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Platforms:

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Woolwich Arsenal DLR Extension

Opened: 10th of January, 2009.

A brand new extension and station designed to serve the local area. This is an extension off of the existing London City Airport branch of the DLR which had opened in December 2005. What had made the DLR so cost effective in the past is extending the system gradually and in small stages, meaning that if something were to go wrong, less would be at stake than if they had done larger more headline grabbing extensions. Hence why the extension to Woolwich Arsenal opened in two stages, first to King George V (2005) and then now to Woolwich Arsenal.

After leaving King George V to the east, the line dives underground to pass beneath the Thames in twin tube tunnels, the route takes more than a 90 degree turn under the thames and arrives at Woolwich Arsenal pointing westwards. Just after exiting the tunnel under the Thames, there is a cutting with a scissors crossover, the route then turns a sharp right into the subterranean station. A video of the route from London City Airport, past King George V and under the Thames into Woolwich Arsenal can be viewed here. There is also a diagram of the route here.

Woolwich Arsenal provides interchange with NR (National Rail) services to Kent and to Central London. There are three ticket halls. One is the original ticket hall which is solely for NR. Another new ticket hall just next to it serves the DLR only and is there to serve local bus routes. This ticket hall (Town Centre) features a garish wall mural of random objects, there are escalators straight down to the platforms from here. The last ticket hall (Woolwich New Road) serves the town centre and is for NR and DLR. Once entering the ticket hall, passengers go down a level for NR, or down a second level to the DLR. The DLR station has an island platform with sparse decoration. As with all new stations, there are lifts for the disabled.

Town Centre entrance:

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Town Centre ticket hall mural:

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Escalators down to platform:

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Woolwich New Road entrance:

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Platform with (new) train:

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Platforms:

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Tower Gateway DLR Station

Opened: 2nd of March, 2009.

The original station at Tower Gateway was built in 1987 on the original DLR route. It was the most Central and the most western station on the DLR at that time. As with most DLR stations built at that time, it was built on the cheap, with a simple island platform, sparse decoration and little shelter. The importance of this station decreased when the branch to Bank was built in 1991. However, in recent years the DLR has become more and more crowded, and the station has become dangerously overcrowded. This, along with the desire to extend the platforms to allow 3 car trains, were the reasons to re-build the station from a single narrow island platform with two tracks on either side, to a more capacious single track terminus. This layout allows passengers to exit and enter the train at the same time, reducing dwell times.

The stations consists of a single ticket hall (or circulation area, as most DLR stations have no ticket gates!) it remains painted in the original DLR blue and is of tacky 80s design... Passengers then travel either up stairs, lifts or one of the two escalators to the elevated platforms. There is another small circulation area where passengers can buy snacks from the small shop. Passengers make a right turn and facing them is the platform. The platform is in a 'horse shoe' shape and is long enough for 3 car DLR units. Passengers exit and enter on opposite sides, the doors opening on both sides. It features plain grey painted metal and windows opening on to the adjacent tracks from Fenchurch Street NR station, or on the opposite side, to the streetscape. The centre, where the train alights, is open to the elements, but the platforms are nearly completely sheltered.

Old platforms:

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Refurbished 'Ticket Hall':

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Escalators and stairs to new platforms:

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Platform with train, showing the NR tracks in the background:

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New South Quay DLR Station

Opened: 26th of October, 2009.

This station was needed as the DLR is increasing it's standard train legnth from two articulated units, to three. The old South Quay station was built in the middle of two tight curves, therefore the platforms could not be extended to accomodate 3 car units. It was decided to build a new station east of the old station that could accomodate three car units.

The new station is elevated straddles the harbour, with entrances at both sides and the harbour in between. It is 125m to the east of the old station. Like most DLR stations, it does not have ticket barriers therefore passengers simply touch in with their oyster cads on one of the readers, and then get a lift or stairs/escalators to platform level. The platforms are of standard DLR and the cladding alternates between grey metal and glass. It is one of the first DLR stations to feature DLR roundels mounted on poles.

Old station entrance:

Kake Pugh at Flickr
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Old station platforms:

johnny1989b at Flickr
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New station main entrance:

IanVisits at Flickr
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New station platforms:

IanVisits at Flickr
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Platforms from afar:

kpmarek at Flickr
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Train Updates

New DLR Trains (B07/09 Stock)

First Passenger Journey: September 2008

Manufacturers Bombardier considered these trains as superior to the current trains in use on the DLR and were therefore ordered to run in 3-car sets on extended (from 2-car sets) sections of the DLR. They are not replacements for the current stock but are instead used to boost the capacity of the system. Features include: improved internal design, with larger windows and doors, improved acceleration/braking and superior safety amenities. The interiors generally look similar to the current stock so they blend in.

Current trains (B90/B92/B2K Stock)

Exterior

bvohra at Flickr
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Video





New Trains (B07/09 Stock)

Exterior

darquati at Flickr
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Interior


IanVisits at Flickr
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Video

[Vertigo]

Great pics. Londen Underground is certainly one of the most interesting metro systems in the world. It's the world's oldest, one of the most extensive and the tube lines are very typical due to their narrow profile... The extended Jubilee Line is an awesome extension to the network.

[SpastiK]

nice pics!!

[efrost]

Nice pics, but deceiving I think... Canary Wharf st, Charing X st or Parlament st are not representative. The sad truth is that London underground is in a very poor condition. I have used it on daily basis it for 3 years and I have first hand expirience.

[Never]

Originally Posted by efrost

Nice pics, but deceiving I think... Canary Wharf st, Charing X st or Parlament st are not representative. The sad truth is that London underground is in a very poor condition. I have used it on daily basis it for 3 years and I have first hand expirience.

http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/content/press...es/0410/12.asp

As for the pics there are a lot of the older lines such as the Northern linem pictured, and you can see that these lines are due for major refurbishment.

Infact apart from the last couple of photos they are all of the older tube lines and stations with the Northern line being the deepest and most need of upgrading of all the tube lines, the pictures therefore mainly reflect the worst of the tube rather than the best.

[efrost]

humm, there are still 60´s trains running in the London underground...still, I am glad to see that see that major improvements are going to be made. London deserves a better public system. Are there any plans for the commuting trains as well?

[Rational Plan]

Most of the old Suburban stock will have been replaced by the end of this year. Some of 1980's stock is going through extensive mid life replacement. I have certainly been impressed by the new trains on South West trains and the refurbished stock for the inner suburbs looks good too. The tube is certainly old and has been neglected, but finally proper investment is going in and within 7 years the network will be signifcantly more reliable. By 2016 most of the network will have replaced its trains, the new stock for the victoria line and the subsurface network will all be of walk through stock.

[aznichiro115]

so many types os stock in hong kong there are only 2 types on the main like 5 types total

[Never]

I love the Tube it's has a certain subteranean eerie quality about it





Actually this picture is more reflective of a Typical Tube Station
as they are not usually as cramped as the Northern Line.



The Tube System is full of diverse and unexpexted Architecture, here's
Notting Hill Tube Station









[IMG]http://******************/ajh/pictures.nsf/viewer/C5D4A74FC6BBC36980256D750033BD50/$FILE/1024_PICT2491.jpg[/IMG]

The tube,especicaly the nothern line,stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!

They shoudlnt allow people to use it!

[Never]

Originally Posted by W A R I O

The tube,especicaly the nothern line,stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!

They shoudlnt allow people to use it!

But you stink W A R I O and your still allowed to use this site!!!!

Perhaps you should get a bath smelly!!!!

BTW F.... U

[Nephasto]

Originally Posted by Never

But you stink W A R I O and your still allowed to use this site!!!!

Perhaps you should get a bath smelly!!!!

BTW F.... U

Nothing beats the good old tube!

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by efrost

Nice pics, but deceiving I think... Canary Wharf st, Charing X st or Parlament st are not representative. The sad truth is that London underground is in a very poor condition. I have used it on daily basis it for 3 years and I have first hand expirience.

I'm sorry but I disagree. Its easy to look down your nose at the Tube when you have a stunning modern Metro like Madrid, but I'd be interested to see what it looks like when its 140 years old. Considering the age of the infrastructure I think that Tube stations and trains are very clean, bright and welcoming and very well-staffed.

If you offered me to swap the classic 19th Century stations like Notting Hill gate (above) and the turn of the century deep level tube line stations with their tiled walls for a load of space age stations then the Tube would lose all its character. Which stations / trains are you thinking of that are in "poor condition"? I think that cosmetically London Underground does a great job... the underinvestment is apparent looking at the track and signalling but the average customer wouldn't notice this.

Re: the 1960's trains...

Yes the Metropolitan Line runs 1960s stock, but it was totally overhauled 10 years ago (i.e. the cars stripped back to nothing and rebuilt) so its not as if you're looking at 1960s paintwork, floors or seats. To all intents and purposes the trains were brand new when refurbished from a customers point of view. In fact all older trains (pre-1980) were totally refurbished between 1990 and 2000 which coincided with brand new trains for the Central, Northern and Jubilee Lines. The oldest cars which haven't been refurbished are the D Stock on the District Line, which have just started being sent off for overhaul.

[Frog]

i agree, the tube has character and charm unlike all these modern metros

[Tubeman]

My Underground Train Thread

[redstone]

Any pics of the first line?

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by redstone

Any pics of the first line?

As in the first ever, the Metropolitan Railway from Farringdon Street to Paddington?

[Tubeman]

Baker Street Station then:



And Now:



Link

King's Cross then:



Compare it to the photo of Notting Hill Gate station above; the ornate over-roof was standard for the original Metropolitan Railway stations. The King's Cross Station above is closed today, as it was relocated towards the Main Line terminus in the 1940s... The present day Metropolitan platforms aren't much to look at in comparison.

Another thing you may notice is how wide the trains are; the line was built to Great Western Railway 7" Broad gauge as opposed to English standard 4' 8.5", as it physically linked to the Great Western Railway at Paddington. If you look closely you can see a third rail... this is (obviously) nothing to do with electric trains, the line is actually dual-gauge so both Broad and Standard Gauge trains could use the route (it also linked to the Main Lines at King's Cross, St Pancras and Liverpool Street).

[hkskyline]

Interestingly, the District and Circle line trains are wider and taller than the other lines. It's quite easy to bump the head while standing by the door on the typical London Underground train.

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

Interestingly, the District and Circle line trains are wider and taller than the other lines. It's quite easy to bump the head while standing by the door on the typical London Underground train.

The District, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and East London Lines all use what is known as "Surface" Stock, which is basically of the same dimensions as Mainline Trains. This reflects the fact that they are the oldest parts of London Underground and built as Mainline Railways that happened to pass under London's streets. They all had numerous connections with Mainline railways when first built, some of which remain (e.g. District Line at Gunnersbury and East Putney, and Metropolitan Line at Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham). They all also originally used steam traction (see picture above from King's Cross).

The later, smaller "Tube" lines were all self-contained and electrically powered from their inception. Their dimensions were as small as possible to minimise construction costs, although they still use the Standard Gauge... admittedly they can feel quite pokey if you aren't used to them.