| London Underground 1973 Stock | |
|---|---|
 Refurbished 1973 Stock train atHillingdon | |
 The interior of a refurbished 1973 Stock car | |
| Stock type | Deep-level tube |
| In service | 19 July 1975 – present |
| Manufacturer | Metro-Cammell[1] |
| Built at | Washwood Heath,Birmingham, England[1] |
| Replaced | 1959 Stock |
| Constructed | 1974–1977[1] |
| Refurbished | Bombardier Prorail (atHorbury railway works) 1996–2001[1] |
| Scrapped | 2025–present |
| Number built | 175 units (87+1⁄2 trains) |
| Successor | 2024 Stock |
| Formation | 3 cars per unit, 2 units per train |
| Capacity | 684 per train (228 seated)[1] |
| Depots | |
| Lines served | Piccadilly |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 106.810 m (350 ft 5.1 in) |
| Car length |
|
| Width | 2.629 m (8 ft 7.5 in) |
| Height | 2.888 m (9 ft 5.7 in) |
| Maximum speed | 72 km/h (45 mph) |
| Weight |
|
| Traction system | Pneumatic single camshaft (GEC Traction)[1] |
| Traction motors | LT118 DC motor (Brush Traction)[1] |
| Electric system(s) | Fourth rail, 630 V DC |
| Current collection | Contact shoe |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge |
TheLondon Underground 1973 Stock is a type of rolling stock used on thePiccadilly line of theLondon Underground. It was introduced into service in 1975 with the extension of the line toHatton Cross, followed by a further extension toHeathrow Airport in 1977. A total of 86 six-car trains were built.
The trains were built byMetro-Cammell between 1974 and 1977, and were refurbished byBombardier Transportation between 1996 and 2001. They are some of the oldest trains running on the Underground, and in Britain as a whole, second only to the1972 Stock that runs on theBakerloo line.
In the early 1970sLondon Transport placed an order for a new fleet of trains to replace the1938 Stock and1959 Stock vehicles which previously operated on thePiccadilly line. Built between 1974 and 1977 by Metro Cammell inBirmingham,[2] the first unit entered service on 19 July 1975 and the last was introduced by 1977.[3] The trains featured longer cars and larger door space than the previous units, being designed for airport travellers with luggage.[4]
The order was for87+1⁄2 6-car trains, made up of 196 driving motor (DM) cars, 175 trailer (T) cars and 154 uncoupling non-driving motor (UNDM) cars. Each train is made up of two 3-car units, and most units are single-ended, formed DM-T-UNDM. There are also 21 double-ended units, formed DM-T-DM, to provide additional flexibility and to operate the Aldwych shuttle (now closed).[5]
The initial order included two test units equipped with solid state traction equipment and electronic control systems. These were double-ended units 892-692-893 (delivered 1977) and 894-694-895 (delivered 1979), and were known collectively as the ETT (Experimental Tube Train). The first unit was equipped by Westinghouse, the second by GEC. In order to provide additional units for the opening of the Heathrow loop, these units were converted to standard at Acton Works, entering service between 1986 and 1987.[5]
One three-car unit (166-566-366) was damaged in aterrorist attack on 7 July 2005 and subsequently scrapped.[6]
From 1996 to 2001, the entire fleet was refurbished byBombardier Prorail atHorbury railway works.[7] The interior was completely remodelled, with changes including the removal of transverse seating, replacement of the original wooden flooring with new floor material, replacement of straphangers with new grab rails, new enclosures for the ceiling ventilation fans, brighter lighting with new diffusers, installation of car-end windows and new perch seats in the centre of the cars, creating more luggage space for airport passengers.[7]
The original unpainted exterior was painted in London Underground's corporate livery, and a new emergency detrainment system was fitted in the cabs. The external destination blinds were also replaced with LCDs, and these were subsequently replaced with new LED units in 2015.[8]
Interior dot-matrix displays were also introduced around this time, with later refurbished trains having a more compact surrounding than earlier refurbished cars.[9]
Automated voice announcements in the 1973 Stock as of today are notable for using the Julie Berry voice (used in various national rail services) as well as Adrian Hieatt for 'see it say it sorted' message. No other tube stock uses the Julie Berry voice. Both shall be phased out with2024 Stock by a synthesised voice called 'Elloise'.[10]
The first refurbished unit re-entered service in June 1996,[7] with the final refurbished unit re-entering service on 10 July 2001.[11]
The Deep tube programme (DTP) originally covered the replacement of the trains and signalling on theBakerloo and Piccadilly lines, and had been expanded to cover rolling stock requirements arising from the planned extension of theNorthern line to Battersea, the eventual replacement ofCentral line trains, and proposed increased service frequency on the Northern and Jubilee lines. The EVO tube concept design, a lighter articulated train with walk-through cars, was introduced early in 2011.[12]
Transport for London (TfL) has planned to replace Piccadilly Line trains in 2010 with the 2014 Stock to be delivered from 2015 onwards, with the two bidders of the contract; Alstom and CAF were bidded for the project. It was postponed, with the project being renamed toNew Tube for London.[12][13][14][15] In June 2018, TfL announced 94 nine-car2024 stock trains to replace the 1973 Stock.[16] As of early 2026, these are expected to enter service from the second half of 2026. All 1973 Stock trains will be decommissioned by 2030.[17][18]
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