London Underground 1992 Stock

Infobox Underground stock


name=1992 Stock
InService=1993-present
Manufacturer=ABB Asea Brown Boveri
LinesServed=Central
Waterloo & City
CarLength=16.25 m
CarWidth=2.62 m
CarHeight=2.87 m
MaxSpeed=60 mph (96 km/h)
Weight=20.5-22.5 tonnes (per car)
TubeStock=true

The 1992 Tube Stock was built by ABB (later Adtranz and now Bombardier Transportation) for the Central Line as the result of the extensive testing of the three 1986 tube stock prototype trains. Even so, the introduction of this stock was far from trouble-free and there were many technical teething problems.

Eighty-five trains were ordered from ABB, each formed of four two-car units (two units have driving cabs, the others are fitted with shunting controls). Upon entering service in April 1993, the new units gradually replaced the previous 1962 tube stock, which was finally withdrawn two years later. The trains were manufactured at the former BREL Carriage Works in Derby.

The propulsion for the trains was manufactured by a consortium of ABB and Brush TractionFact|date=April 2007, and was one of the first examples of microprocessor controlled traction featuring a network to connect the different control units.

After the initial construction run, an additional ten two-car units were built for British Rail for the Waterloo & City Line, which until 1994 was part of the national railway network, and became their Class 482. When this line passed to London Underground at the start of the process to privatise British Rail on 1 April 1994, these units also passed to London Underground.

It was a fault with one of this type of trains that led to the Chancery Lane derailment on 25 January 2003. The whole fleet had to be taken out of service for several months, causing the complete withdrawal of services on the Central Line, to permit faulty bolts to be replaced.

TfL and Metronet closed the Waterloo & City line for five months from April to September 2006 to allow major upgrade work on the tunnels and rolling stock. The line's limited access meant that this was first time that the units had been brought above ground since their introduction 12 years earlier. The refurbishment of the trains saw them finally painted in the London Underground white, red and blue livery having operated in Network SouthEast colours since the stock's introduction.

The 1992 stock's design is reminiscent of the 1986 prototypes. The new stock presently being built by Bombardier Transport (to be phased in, in 2009) are more like the 1992 stock in shape and design than the more recent 1995-6 stock.

Due to ongoing problems with the motors on the 1992 stock, the trains will be overhauled with new AC motors which are used on most modern rolling stock. The current motors are of the DC design. Although it has been rumored that some persons at TfL believe that it will be cheaper and easier to replace the entire fleet of 1992 stock as there are other difficulties and problems with them.

Announcer System

The Central Line is fitted with an automated voice announcer (Emma Clarke) and was the first line to receive this facility. An example of the regular voice pattern is as follows:

"This is Tottenham Court Road. Change here for the Northern Line." "This is a Central Line train, to Ealing Broadway."

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/londonunderground/rollingstock/1626.aspx 1992 Tube Stock specifications (TfL)]
* [http://www.squarewheels.org.uk/rly/stock/1992tubeStock/ 1992 Tube Stock - Squarewheels.org.uk]