London Underground 1995 Stock

London Underground 1995 Stock
A 1995 Stock at West Finchley in 2009
The interior of a refurbished 1995 Stock
In service	1998 – present
Manufacturer	GEC Alsthom-Metro-Cammell[1]
Replaced	1959 Stock 1962 Stock 1972 Stock
Constructed	1996–2000[1]
Entered service	12 June 1998
Refurbished	2013–2015
Number built	636 cars[1]
Formation	6 cars per train
Capacity	662 per train
Line(s) served	Northern line
Specifications
Car length	17.77 m (58 ft 3.6 in)
Width	2.630 m (8 ft 7.54 in)
Height	2.875 m (9 ft 5.19 in)
Maximum speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Weight	DM 29.4 tonnes (28.9 long tons; 32.4 short tons) UNDM 27.9 tonnes (27.5 long tons; 30.8 short tons) T 21.5 tonnes (21.2 long tons; 23.7 short tons)
Traction system	IGBT-VVVF (Alstom ONIX)[1]
Traction motors	3-phase AC induction motor[1] (GEC Alsthom)
Current collection method	Contact shoe
Bogies	Twin-transform flexible frame bogies (Adtranz)[1]
Stock type	Deep-level tube

The London Underground 1995 Stock is a type of rolling stock used on the Northern line of the London Underground. A total of 106 six-car trains were built, entering service between June 1998 and April 2001,^[2] replacing the 1959 Stock, 1962 Stock and 1972 Stock. They are very similar to the 1996 Stock used on the Jubilee line.

History[]

106 six-car trains were ordered by London Underground to replace the 1959 Stock, 1962 Stock and 1972 Stock in use on the Northern line at the time. The trains were built by GEC Alsthom (later Alstom) at their plant in Washwood Heath, Birmingham, although the bodyshells were manufactured in and imported from Spain.^[3]

Construction began in 1996, with one car going on public display as part of the Lord Mayor's Show on 9 November 1996. The first train was delivered to Ruislip depot on 20 December 1996, and testing began in early 1997. The first train entered passenger service on 12 June 1998,^[4] and the final train entered service on 10 April 2001.^[5][3]

Design[]

The 1995 Stock is very similar to the 1996 Stock used on the Jubilee line. Both trains use the same bodyshell design, and were built at the same factory at the same time. However, there are some major differences, mostly relating to the mechanical and electrical equipment.^{[citation needed]}

The most noticeable difference is the type of traction motor used. The 1996 Stock design specification was "frozen" in 1991, meaning that despite the name, the 1995 Stock actually uses more modern equipment. The 1995 stock uses Alstom's "Onix" three-phase insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) drive, whereas the 1996 stock uses three-phase induction motors fed from a single-source inverter using a gate turn-off thyristor (GTO), derived from those on Class 465/466 Networker trains. This means that, unlike the 1996 Stock, the 1995 Stock does not make the same "gear changing" noise when accelerating from rest.^[3]

Another major difference is the type of bogie used. The 1995 stock uses Adtranz bogies with air suspension to cope with the difficult track conditions of the more extensive underground sections of the Northern line, whereas the 1996 stock uses Alstom bogies with rubber suspensions.^{[citation needed]}

Other differences include tip-up seats in the middle of each coach, instead of perch seats on the 1996 stock, as well the use of orange LEDs for the passenger information displays, as opposed to the red LEDs used on the 1996 stock.

Each train is made up of two three-car units, coupled together, with each unit consisting of a Driving Motor car (DM), a Trailer car (T) and an Uncoupling Non-Driving Motor car (UNDM). The six-car trains are therefore formed DM-T-UNDM+UNDM-T-DM. Some trailer cars are fitted with a de-icing tank and applicators, in order to spray de-icing fluid on the conductor rails along above-ground sections of track; these cars are marked by a small circle after their car number.^[3]

The 1995 Stock is the only deep-level tube stock to use selective door operation, necessitated by short platforms at stations such as Moorgate, Charing Cross, Hampstead and Clapham Common.^{[citation needed]}

Refurbishment[]

The refurbishment of the 1995 stock

Starting in 2013, the 1995 Stock underwent refurbishment, more than a decade after the last trains of this type entered service. Internally, new flooring was fitted, with contrasting colours in the doorways, and the yellow grab rails were re-painted dark blue. The new standard London Underground "Barman" moquette was also introduced, and wheelchair backboards were installed in the trailer cars. The external door open/close buttons were plated over, and the internal buttons were replaced by a visual door open/close warning light. The windows were polished to remove graffiti, and the external livery was re-applied.^[6][7]

The refurbishment was carried out by Alstom, and the first refurbished train entered service on 30 May 2013, and the last refurbished train had entered service by 13 April 2015.^[8]

Maintenance[]

Alstom is responsible for maintaining the trains under a PFI contract which runs until 2033.^[9][10] The main depot is at Golders Green, with another large depot at Morden, and two smaller depots at Highgate and Edgware.^[11]

Diagram[]

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to London Underground 1995 Stock.

• 1995 Tube Stock specifications (TfL)
• 1995 Tube Stock - Squarewheels.org.uk