London Underground D78 Stock
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- "D Stock" redirects here. For the 1912 Metropolitan District Railway Stock, see London Underground D Stock.
The London Underground D Stock is a type of electric multiple unit used on the London Underground District Line1.
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[edit] History
The stock was originally called D78 stock as it was intended to enter service in 1978, although it is now most commonly referred to as D Stock. The stock was ordered in 1976 to replace the pre-war CO/CP Stock and post-war R Stock fleet operating on the District Line. Some 75 trains were built by Metro-Cammell, entering service on 28 January 1980, with final deliveries in 1983.
[edit] Detail
The D Stock is composed of six-car trains, as opposed to the seven-car trains of CO/CP/R Stock, whose cars were shorter. The bogies are the same as on the 1973 Tube Stock. D Stock brought many innovations. The rubber coil suspension, for example, meant a smoother ride for passengers. The driver's cab is more ergonomic, the seat being of a swivelling design that allows it to be move forwards, backwards, up or down. The dead man's handle of earlier trains is replaced by a joystick handle which only needed to be twisted for driving and braking the train. Additionally there is a Train Management System (replacing the original Train Equipment Panel) that highlights faults to the driver.
The most noticeable difference between D Stock and earlier trains is that the doors were single leaf. Originally passengers pressed door-control buttons to open them but now all door operation is controlled by the driver. Posters explaining how to operate the door buttons were put up around Tube stations in English, French and German when the stock was first introduced. The D stock windows had to be modified because of overheating in the carriages when new. It is the only unpainted train still running on LU while un-refurbished. The D Stock is London Underground's most reliable train in service. The entire fleet is due to be replaced in 2015.
[edit] Refurbishment
The mid-life refurbishment of the D stock is the first to be carried out under the PPP, by Metronet, and was delayed until contract negotiations were completed. A prototype unit (three cars only) was prepared by London Underground in 2001 and remains in service. The refurbishment programme began in summer 2005 with the first two units coming into service in June. The refurbishment now taking place consists of:
- applying the LU livery on the outside
- a restyling of the interiors in green and white
- maple flooring replaced with rubber
- adding end-of-car windows
- new grab bars instead of hanging straps
- covering over of door buttons
- dot matrix indicators showing the station and destination on the inside of carriages and on the front and sides of trains
- audio passenger information system guided by GPS and odometer
- flip seat/disabled multi purpose area
- air conditioning to drivers cab
- anti-vandal paint and window film
- CCTV
It is the first Underground stock to have the side of carriage displays. As of August 2006 23 of the six-car units have been completed and are in service. Metronet refurbish only three trains at a time and plan to reintroduce a train every two weeks. If this schedule is maintained the project will be completed during 2008.
[edit] Notes
- The stations on the Edgware Road branch of the District Line after High Street Kensington (Notting Hill Gate, Bayswater, Paddington, Edgware Road) have platforms which are not long enough for the D Stock - as a consequence, the service from Wimbledon-Edgware Road is provided using C Stock.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
- Metronet Matters newsletter PDF
- TfL press release
- D Stock - District Line Photo Site
- D Stock - Tubeprune
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