Hello apologies if this has already been discussed-I was on the Jubilee Line yesterday and I noted that the interiors looked quite sorry for themselves-windows scratched, grubby seats and slightly yellowed plastic-I know this is common on the underground but this combined with the cracking issues a few years ago and the fact that the 96 Stock was built in a hurry for the JLE makes me think- is there any sort of replacement planned at all?
Not really. LU looked at it a few years ago, but this was more driven by looking at ways of uplifting the Jubilee service which at the time was being constrained by insufficient trains. Post Covid and post Crossrail this isn’t quite such an issue, especially in the financial climate.
They’re not bad trains, indeed the refined Northern Line trains are excellent. The Jubilee fleet hasn’t been as well maintained, and this is starting to show. They are starting to show signs of becoming a problem child, and LU will have to find ways of tackling this otherwise things will likely get a lot worse. Unlike the Central Line fleet we’re talking about niggles rather than fundamental flaws.
With the well known issues with the Bakerloo and Central fleets, as well as imminent Piccadilly fleet replacement, I can’t see the Jubilee fleet being replaced for some considerable time.