1973 stock withdrawal

[73Stock]

248 departs Northfields for the last time.

1973 Tube Stock | Northfields | 31/07/25

Car 248 departs for the scrapheap.

flic.kr

 

[Mawkie]

210-610-410 was looking stripped and ready for removal at Northfields when I passed earlier today. No info on when it will be removed sadly.

 

[Dstock7080]

210-610-410 No info on when it will be removed sadly.

Departed Northfields this morning

 

[LUYMun]

Still not sure where exactly they’re being scrapped at. Docklands has been suggested.

 

[73Stock]

New maps have been added to the inside of the remaining cars.

 

[Siimo]

What's the timescale for the removal of the 73s? ie how long left to ride on them?

 

[jumble]

What's the timescale for the removal of the 73s? ie how long left to ride on them?

At this rate about 2 to 3 years

 

[Thirteen]

I imagine the withdrawal is in being phased and it will increase once the 2024 stock rolls out.

 

[73Stock]

There's another 3-car set at Northfields in position to be craned out.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Should be 251-651-451

 

[absolutelymilk]

Why are they being scrapped now, rather than after the leaf fall season when they seem to be short of trains? Is it so they can be used for spares for the trains in better working order?

 

[bluegoblin7]

The trains that have been scrapped have all been stopped for a significant period of time with numerous parts removed, and would not be viable to return to service.

 

[73Stock]

Are they leaving tomorrow?

 

[A60stock]

Sort of off topic but I had a query regarding when these trains were refurbished:

As those who are familiar with the stock all know, when the 73ts doors close, there is a distinct air whoosh/rush sound just before the doors actually close following the chimes sounding.

Were the door motors/opening/closing speed of the doors amended? I ask because in videos of the un-refurbished stock, you can barely hears the "Air whoosh" when the doors close and I thought maybe its because the video sound quality doesn't compare with videos of today. However, there is a video online taken in 1999 which shows both an un-refurburshed example and refurbished example leaving Ealing Common and you can clearly hear the "whoosh" sound just as the doors close on the refurbished unit but not so much on the un-refurbished one. So it seems like something was changed.

 

[73Stock]

The three at Northfields have disappeared. I assume they left yesterday.

 

[Dstock7080]

Were the door motors/opening/closing speed of the doors amended?
So it seems like something was changed.

Yes, the door engines were changed on refurbishment, as with the C69 Stock slightly earlier.

 

[TheEngineer]

Can it be confirmed then that set 251 has left for scrap now?

 

[Snow1964]

A tender has been issued as a framework for disposal of rolling stock over 8 years (with extra 4 year option to allow for delays) covering Piccadilly line (estimated £7m), Bakerloo 72 stock (estimated £3m) and Heavy haul vehicles (£1m), the later 2 subject to replacement stock being ordered

1 buyer​

• Transport for London London

Description​

This notice is to inform the market of an upcoming procurement event for the rolling stock disposal framework, which will include services. London Underground (LUL) requires removal via rail and/or road, decommission and disposal of a number of aging rolling stock assets/fleets.
LUL's pipeline of anticipated rolling stock disposal to be awarded through this framework includes: Piccadilly Line 73TS rolling stock (approximately £7m), Bakerloo Line 72TS rolling stock (approximately £3m); and Heavy Haulage Vehicles (HHV) (approximately £1m). It is estimated that the total value of projects on the framework will be approximately £11m. Bakerloo Line upgrade and HHV projects will be subject to relevant future funding approvals.
London Underground has purchased new rolling stock for the Piccadilly Line in order to replace the existing 73TS Fleet and is also currently planning projects to upgrade the Bakerloo Line Upgrade (BLU) which would include replacing the 72TS rolling stock, and further projects looking at updating LUL's fleet of heavy haulage vehicles (HHV). Both the BLU and HHV projects are in the early stages and are subject to London Underground securing the required funding. If these projects proceed the disposals of the rolling stock will be required.
The core scope includes removal of rolling stock from LUL's sites, and transport to an off-site location (provided by the supplier). At the offsite location the rolling stock will be decommissioned by the supplier, this will involve the rolling stock cars being decoupled and hazardous waste contained, removed, and disposed of. Once all hazardous materials have been removed the remaining recyclable material from each car will be removed, weighed, and issued for recycling or re-use. All remaining materials, both hazardous and non-hazardous will then be scrapped as waste. The PLU fleet removal is due to commence for scrapping in early summer 2026 concluding in the late 2027.
The contract is a bespoke Framework Agreement with two lots based on the different methods of haulage/removal (Road and Rail), a maximum of three (3) suppliers are to be selected per each lot. To achieve this, LUL will be conducting a competitive tender for this framework which shall have an initial term of eight (8) years, with an option to extend for further four (4) years based upon acceptable operational and commercial performance as set out in the framework. The maximum framework length will therefore be twelve (12) years.
The framework will include a mini competition procedure (call-off contracts) which will be evaluated on price only for services. Each request for a proposal for the mini competitions will be issued on a batched basis. LUL's expectation is that no more than 5 trains will be included in each batch. Each batch will have a clearly specified collection date and location depending on the haulage/removal requirement. LUL will have control over the required mode of transport when specifying the collection location at request for proposal (call-off) stage.
The framework also reserves the right for Direct Award. The framework also includes a 'scrap value rebate' mechanism under which LUL will receive from the suppliers based on the realised value of the scrap materials - in order to align with Tax guidance from HMRC, the scrap value will be returned to LUL as a separate incoming transaction (rather than offset against the cost of services).

https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2025/W41/856293907

 

[73Stock]

Is that another one waiting to go at Northfields?

 

[Busman]

Anyone worried about the 73s being removed I wouldn't worry as they'll be around until at least 2030 as the new train rollout is obviously being managed by TfL who, like everything they touch, either gets massively delayed or cancelled. They still blaming Covid?

Yet another delay, much like the DLR rollout.

 

[erikvd28]

Old Piccadilly line trains to be cannibalised to keep Bakerloo line running

When the Piccadilly line's new trains start carrying passengers later next year, some of the replaced trains will be used to keep the ageing Bakerloo line running.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

Old Piccadilly line trains to be cannibalised to keep Bakerloo line running​

When the Piccadilly line’s new trains start carrying passengers later next year, some of the replaced trains will be used to keep the ageing Bakerloo line running.

 

[Nym]

So the parts that go via Railway Engineering Workshops in Acton will continue to float between fleets like they always have. I’m shocked, shocked I tell you!!!

 

[Wolfie]

In the least surprising news ever it is being reported in London that withdrawn 1973 stock will be harvested of parts to keep initially remaining 1973 stock and later, for suitable parts, 1972 stock running.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Oct 2025 ==

So the parts that go via Railway Engineering Workshops in Acton will continue to float between fleets like they always have. I’m shocked, shocked I tell you!!!

The sarcasm is strong in this one, lol....

 

[Mawkie]

Ianvisits was a bit light on detail.

What parts are interchangeable between 72 and 73 stock?

 

[73Stock]

Someone at the depot having fun. I wonder which will be retired first?

View attachment 191028

 

[Dstock7080]

Unit 251 dispatched by road from Cockfosters depot today

 

[christopher]

Car 251 dispatched by road from Cockfosters depot today

Must have been the one I saw in Crayford earlier