S-Stock Focus ~ London Underground

D78 Stock - Omar (C). District Line. 

Pre-Scheduled (Am Probably  Still Asleep)... We Usually Only Take A Look At News And Updates Above Ground, So This Is Probably A Welcome Change To See A TFL Focussed London Underground Post. 

First I'll summarise which units are used on what routes for the Tube, aside from routes which use S-Stock as I'll come onto this topic shortly.

• The Bakerloo line uses 1972 Stock, refurbished in 1991-1995, and these units have 7 cars. 
• Central Line: 1992 Stock, entering service between 1993/1994 and refurbished in 2011. These units are driven automatically. The Waterloo + City line uses the same stock, but refurbished in 2006 instead and these units operate as 4-car formations.
• Jubilee stock was built in 1996, entering service as 7-car units between 1997-1998. 
• Northern Stock was built in 1995, as seen here. 
• Piccadilly: 1973 stock that is driver operated.
• The Victoria Line uses auto 2009 stock in 8-car consists. 

Now onto the S-Stock - which is apart of the Movia Bombardier family, which also includes the 2009 Victoria Line Stock.

S-stock (sub-surface) operates on the Metropolitan (S7 stock, 7-cars respectively) as well as the S8 (8-cars) for the Circle, Hammersmith + City and District line. 147 of these S7/S8 units are currently in service on the routes, with a further 45 under construction at Derby (by their manufacturer Bombardier).

Wikipedia: 'These trains have regenerative brakes, returning around 20 per cent of their energy to the network. It is expected that the S Stock will have replaced the older trains on the sub-surface network by 2017.'

SquareWheels.Org state:

'Wide “walk-through” angways are provided between cars, and the saloons are air-conditioned. To reduce heat/coolth wastage, saloon doors normally auto-close after 45 seconds although the driver can override this function to keep the doors open where appropriate; the override occurs automatically at Baker Street (all platforms) in a bid to reduce accidents caused by passengers running towards closing doors.'

This S-Stock entered service in 2010, following on from Tests at the Old Dalby Test Track.

The stock has also be designed with evacuation features in mind. In the event of an emergency, steps fold out from the the drivers cab door to allow a safe and prompt response.

The District Line runs between Upminster, Barking, Blackfriars and Earl's Court before trains go to different destinations towards Kensington Olympia (Weekends, Bank Hols + Events), Ealing Broadway via Ravenscourt Park, Richmond via Ravenscourt Park, Edgware Road via Laddington and services towards Wimbledon.

Many District services still use D78 stock, whilst the S-stock continues to be built. Beyond this year (2016), the D78 stock will mostly be withdrawn (though some units are being used up North for conversion by VivaRail) as the S-stock will be in use. Updates for this project are here, in Liam's post.

^Harry (back tomorrow, I'm doing a 5-day post marathon). 04:00.