S8 Stock

The S Stock is a fleet of sub-surface rolling stock used on the London Underground. Delivered by Bombardier Transportation in Derby, the S Stock replaced the A Stock on the Metropolitan Line. This stock has many differences from the S7 Stock, one being the seating arrangement and another being number of cars. Both types have air-conditioning and low floors to ease accessibility for disabled people, and it is possible for a passenger to walk from one car to the next while the train is moving with the new gangways between carriages, unlike older sub-surface stock.

Passenger service began on the Metropolitan Line in July 2010 and completely replaced the A Stock in September 2012.

The S designation stands for Sub-surface, following the London Underground tradition of designating surface stock with a letter associated with its intended route - A Stock on the Metropolitan Line to Amersham.

Part of Bombardier's Movia family, the stock consists of 58 eight-car trains for the Metropolitan line. S8 Stock entered service between 2010 and 2012, operating all services by September 2012.

The stock has faster acceleration than the previous A Stock although its top speed is 62 mph, 8 mph slower than A Stock but faster than C and D Stocks. During the period of dual operation with both A Stocks and S Stocks, the stock had its performance capped to match that of the older trains in order to comply with signalling constraints and avoid bunching of the service. S8 Stock seats 306 passengers compared with 448 for A stock although it can accommodate 1,226 standing passengers compare to 976 and even has dedicated space for wheelchairs.

Eventually the voltage will be increased from normal 630 volts to 750 volts. This will allow the stock to perform better and also increase power demands of air-conditioned, fully-motored-axle trains, and allow the trains to return energy to the network through regenerative braking.

At present the stock is operated manually, but London Underground will hopefully activate automatic train operation once the necessary signalling is in place by 2018.

Features:

The S stock is air-conditioned throughout: the sub-surface tunnels (unlike deep-level tube lines) allow the exhausted hot air to disperse, and two-thirds of the sub-surface network is in the open air. The stock has regenerative brakes, returning around 20% of their energy to the network and thus increasing energy efficiency.

End external displays show two lines of text: the top line for the destination, and the bottom for the line. Internally, it has a larger dot matrix indicators (DMIs) than D Stock (C Stock lacks DMIs, as did A Stock). The DMIs show destination and line, and can display other messages such as safety notices. There are also DMIs on the exterior, with text alternating between destination and line, and on the S8 stock the type of service, i.e fast, semi-fast or all stations.

Another new feature is that to prevent accidental pressing of emergency alarms there are flaps over the alarm buttons where the wheelchair spaces are.

Air-conditioning is a first on any London Underground train is by Mitsubishi and has two circuits so that if one fails there is still 50% capacity. Through gangways from car to car are another innovation, as the London Overground's Class 378 also has the same feature.

Passengers can now move from crowded cars to one with more room without having to get off at the next station and board another car. This provides extra room for standing and creates a sense of security.

 CCTV enables the driver to see into every car, while track-to-train video links give the driver a view of the train exterior before leaving a station.

There is a fold-out set of steps in each driver's cab to allow fast evacuation in an emergency, all trains on the London Underground have this feature.

The stock has cantilevered seating for easy cleaning and accessible storage of bags. S8 Stock has a mix of transverse and longitude seating with four wheelchair spaces per train. S8 Stock trains are 133.68m.

The stock is the first on the Metropolitan line with DMIs and automated voice announcements. It uses the same announcer voice as 2009 stock on the Victoria line and C Stock on the Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines.

All stock can operate on all sub-surface lines, with selective door operation used at stations that are shorter than the train.

S8 Stock may operate as a seven-car S8-1 formation.

Entry into service:

S8 was initially tested overnight between Amersham and Watford via the Watford North Curve from 9 November 2009. Driver training began in early January 2010, and the first train entered revenue service on 31 July 2010, shuttling between Wembley Park and Watford.

By 27 June 2011, S8 Stock was running along the whole Metropolitan line. Deliveries were suspended by Transport for London in November 2011 due to concerns over reliability. A number of trains were delivered to London Underground's Neasden depot, but were not accepted to enter service. Deliveries resumed in mid-December 2011.

In August 2012, London Underground confirmed that strap handles would be introduced on S8 Stock, in response to passenger complaints over the height of the handrails as compared with the old A Stock.

All 58 S8 trains had been delivered to Neasden Depot by 15 September 2012. 11 days later the A Stock trains were completely withdrawn. It was reported that 37 of the new trains would be sent back to Bombardier for urgent modification and drivers were unhappy with the driver's cabs.

Baker Street

Baker Street is one of the most complicated Tube stations on the network. With two facing platforms (at cut and cover level) for Circle and Hammersmith & City Line trains. There are four platforms in the open for Metropolitan Line trains - two through lines, two which terminate. There are then four deep level Tube line platforms for Jubilee and Bakerloo line services.

Baker Street is located in Zone 1 on the Tube Map and is between Great Portland Street and Finchley Road if you are on the Metropolitan Line. The station opened as part of the very first underground railway, opening in January 1863.

On the Hammersmith and City/Circle line platforms, there is a historical display in the arches. of the wall with photographs of what the station used to look like when it was first opened. On the deep level Tube lines, tile work pays homage to the fictional Sherlock Holmes character.

Great Portland Street

Great Portland Street opened in 1863 as part of the original London Underground network. It opened between 'Bishop's Road' (now Paddington) on the Hammersmith & City Line and 'Farringdon Street' (close to the present-day Farringdon station). It was originally called 'Portland Road', then it was renamed to its present name in 1917. The station is a cut & cover station with two facing platforms, where just to the west is the junction for Metropolitan Line trains.

Look at the windows on the bridge (inside the station) between the two platforms. You can peer through the windows down onto the tracks and trains directly below.

This station is located in Zone 1 on the Tube map and is found between Euston Square and Baker Street. It has connections with the Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines. The Great Portland Street station building is listed as a building of National Significance. The current structure was built in 1930 on a traffic island. The station is within easy walking distance of Regent's Park and Warren Street Tube stations.

As part of the 150 year celebrations MET No.1 and Sarah Siddons passed though this station in January 2013.

London Underground Tour Part 1

Starting at London Bridge we took the Northern Line to King's Cross St. Pancras. After a Lunch break we took the Piccadilly Line to our first stop Manor House.

Manor House:

Manor House has two separate platforms for the Piccadilly Line located in Zone 3 on the Tube map. This station is a deep level Tube station. Manor House opened in 1932 as part of the Piccadilly Line extension to Cockfosters. It was named after a pub on the corner of the Seven Sisters road. Unfortunately the pub no longer exists although there is a sign on the wall that tells you where it was. There used to be another exit going right up to the tram stops on Seven Sisters Road but it closed in 1950.

This is a Piccadilly Line train to Cockfosters the next station is Turnpike Lane.

Turnpike Lane:

Turnpike Lane has two separate platforms linked together by crossover passages located in Zone 3 on the Tube map. This station is a deep level Tube station. The station opened in September 1932 as part of the extension to Cockfosters. It has a nice Charles Holden designed building, and could have been called 'North Harringay' or 'Ducketts Green'.

The station has yellow frieze tiles marking out the distinguishing features. All stations on this part of the Piccadilly Line have them but they are all in different colours. Manor House tiles are Blue, Wood Green tiles are Green, Bounds Green tiles are Red and Southgate tiles are orange.

This is a Piccadilly Line service to Cockfosters the next station is Wood Green.

Wood Green:

Wood Green is a deep level Tube station located in Zone 3 on the Tube map. It has two separate platforms linked by cross-platform passageways. In September 1932 this station opened as part of the Piccadilly Line extension to Cockfosters, and was listed as a Grade II building in July 2011.

Like at Turnpike Lane this station has green frieze tiles marking out distinguishing features as well. All stations on this part of the Piccadilly Line have them but they are all in different colours. Manor House tiles are Blue, Turnpike Lane tiles are Yellow, Bounds Green tiles are Red and Southgate tiles are orange.

Wood Green is a Grade II listed building. The spacious and lofty elliptical ticket hall has three adjacent entrances separated by two rectangular piers clad in Cornish granite. A low iron balustrade is at the base of each pier on a granite base projecting onto the pavement below the canopy. The newel posts carry a disc and diamond motif used by Holden on other projects. Original bronze poster panels either side of the entrance bays. The ticket hall has a flat lantern roof with Crittall clerestory windows braced by four deep reinforced concrete beams. Below the roof is a white painted concrete ring beam with a further ring beam at entrance level decorated by a shallow stepped pattern matching that on the canopy.

 

 

 

This is a Piccadilly Line train to Arnos Grove the next station is Bounds Green.

 

Bounds Green:

 

Bounds Green is a deep level Tube station, underground with two separate platforms linked together by the exit crossover and other crossover passages. As part of the Piccadilly Line extension to Cockfosters this station opened in September 1932 and was listed as a Grade II building in 2010. At the north end of the westbound platform there is a memorial plaque remembering those who died when a bomb fell on the station during the Second World War.

 

 



 



This is a Piccadilly Line train to Arnos Grove the next station is Arnos Grove where this train will terminate. When leaving the train please ensure you take all of your personal belongings.

Arnos Grove:

Arnos Grove is above ground and in the open and has two island platforms giving three platforms in total. Through trains run on the outside and the middle platform is used for terminating trains. This is where the Piccadilly Line first comes above ground at the northern end of the Line. The station opened in 1932 and used to be the end of the Piccadilly Line before it was extended to Cockfosters. In the ticket hall there is the bronze ticket hall windows still from 1933.

Trains will often wait here for a minute or two as there is a depot nearby, and this station is therefore a changeover point for drivers coming or going off shift. The same depot, Arnos Grove Drivers' Depot won Best Newcomer and Best Overall Garden for their new project which also got them an award in the London In Bloom competition.

Arnos Grove has a striking design with a prominent circular booking hall providing both an effective landmark and hugely impressive interior space. Its large panels of glazing making it particularly evocative when lit at night.

Next stop Southgate.

Southgate:

Southgate is an underground station, even though the stations either side are overground. This is because Southgate is on a hill. There are two separate platforms with crossover passages between them. This station opened in 1933 and could have been called 'Chase Side' or 'Southgate Central'.

The station is beautiful old building with many features that should be admired and not ignored with your head down on your daily commute. The parade of shops constructed around the central circular station building is also lovely. The shops even have their names written in underground-style font. If you go outside the station and look up at the roof, you'll see a 'pylon' shaped object, resembling an electrical insulator.

Next stop Oakwood.

Oakwood:

Back in the open Oakwood has one single island platform with steps from the ticket hall to platform level. The station opened in March 1933 as part of the Cockfosters extension and originally called 'Enfield West', it serves as the terminus of the line for seven months until Cockfosters station was finished. There is a magnificent ticket hall at this station which is a great example of Charles Holden's architecture. It has a large and imposing box-shape, with the ceiling being particularly monumental and bold. This is definitely worth taking a moment to stop and admire.

There is a free bus service for Middlesex University students which runs from the station to the nearby Trent Park campus.

Platform 1 is labelled 'Westbound', and Platform 2 as 'Eastbound' even though from an aerial view platform 1 trains from Oakwood head east, and platform 2 trains head west to Cockfosters.

Oakwood is also a Grade II listed building that has multi-coloured stock brick walls with reinforced-concrete roofs and ring beams. Flat roof with projecting eaves and plain concrete bands below with metal windows and horizontal oblong panes. The entrance portico has a projecting reinforced-concrete canopy whilst there is also reinforced-concrete, plain cantilevered canopy on platform. Outside, the Oakwood Station and the sign form an artistic group.

 
This is a Piccadilly Line service to Cockfosters. The next station is Cockfosters where this train will terminate. All change please. When leaving the train please ensure you take all your personal belongings.

Cockfosters:

Cockfosters is the northern terminus of the Piccadilly Line. There are three lines here with four platforms in total. The station opened in July 1933 as the new northern terminus of the Piccadilly Line, and was nearly called 'Trent Park'.

Look out for the gnomes!

Cockfosters was also our final stop although we had to get all the way back to Waterloo. So, we got back on the Piccadilly Line to Finsbury Park changed on the Victoria Line to Oxford Circus for quickness and then on the Bakerloo Line to Waterloo.