Central line train upgrade

[Wolfie]

"Major boost for Central line commuters as fleet of trains to be upgraded with new motors

One of London’s busiest Tube lines is set for a major boost after transport bosses revealed plans to upgrade its fleet of trains.

New motors and traction control equipment will be installed on all Central Line trains with work starting in the coming weeks.

London Underground said this would mean fewer trains will need to be repaired; making services more reliable and boosting capacity.

It has awarded a £112.1 million contract to rail technology firm Bombardier to carry out the work and provide on-going maintenance of the trains." - Evening Standard

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tra...-to-be-upgraded-with-new-motors-a3622811.html

There is an absolute howler in that story though..
"The Central Line ’92 Tube stock trains are the last trains on the London Underground to use DC, the oldest type of traction motors."
Really? So what about the 1972 stock on the Bakerloo and 1973 stock on the Piccadilly then....

 

[rebmcr]

They're getting a 455-style AC package then?

 

[Lrd]

There is an absolute howler in that story though..
"The Central Line ’92 Tube stock trains are the last trains on the London Underground to use DC, the oldest type of traction motors."
Really? So what about the 1972 stock on the Bakerloo and 1973 stock on the Piccadilly then....

By this they mean they are newest trains using DC motors, everything since them uses AC motors.

 

[Wolfie]

They're getting a 455-style AC package then?

An AC package of Bombardier origin certainly. I would assume that it is likely, for good logistics reasons, to be as compatible as is possible with the traction equipment in the Bombardier-built 1995 and 1996 stock....

Whether that is 455-style who knows.

By this they mean they are newest trains using DC motors, everything since them uses AC motors.

I suspect that you are right - just badly written then. If they had said "the last new trains to enter service with.." things would have been perfectly clear and accurate.

Does this refit mean that the 1992s will be kept in service for longer or are the existing motors a problem?

 

[Blindtraveler]

I think 95/96 is Alsthom???

Will they also get the planned interior work and PIS upgrades whilst out of service?

 

[bluegoblin7]

An AC package of Bombardier origin certainly. I would assume that it is likely, for good logistics reasons, to be as compatible as is possible with the traction equipment in the Bombardier-built 1995 and 1996 stock....

Whether that is 455-style who knows.

1995/96TS were Alstom products, and have two different traction packages themselves (1995 being the IGBT 'ONIX' package, a la 458s, and 1996 using older GTO thyristors, similar to the Networkers, I believe).

It will likely be a 2009/S stock-style package - appropriate given the lineage of the 1992 stock.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Would it be worth them changing the traction package on the 95 & 96 stock at the same time to use if possible the same traction package as the 09 stock?

 

[Wolfie]

I think 95/96 is Alsthom???

Oops... there goes my credibility for checking things - you are absolutely correct.

It will likely be a 2009/S stock-style package - appropriate given the lineage of the 1992 stock.

Ironically that is what I meant (I travel on the 2009s every day) BUT I managed to get the vital facts wrong!!!

Would it be worth them changing the traction package on the 95 & 96 stock at the same time to use if possible the same traction package as the 09 stock?

I'm pretty sure that they have a maintenance agreement with Alstom - that would make your suggestion nigh on impossible. A common package for the 95s and 96s would make things easier though.. See the quote from bluegoblin7 below:

1995/96TS were Alstom products, and have two different traction packages themselves (1995 being the IGBT 'ONIX' package, a la 458s, and 1996 using older GTO thyristors, similar to the Networkers, I believe).

 

[D365]

Would it be worth them changing the traction package on the 95 & 96 stock at the same time to use if possible the same traction package as the 09 stock?

Won't be related to Bombardier as Alstom are still involved with the maintenance of both. I understand that there are proposals to update the 96TS package when additional rolling stock is bought in.

 

[Nym]

An AC package of Bombardier origin certainly. I would assume that it is likely, for good logistics reasons, to be as compatible as is possible with the traction equipment in the Bombardier-built 1995 and 1996 stock....

95/96TS was built by GEC Alshtom.

And given recent proceedings I don't think they'd be happy with changing out 95/96TS to MITRAC (There's also really no need!)

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2017/1406.html

By proceedings commenced on 11 May 2017, the claimant ("Alstom") seeks to challenge the outcome of a tender process which concluded on 13 March 2017, when the defendants ("LUL") announced an intention to award to Bombardier a contract for the supply of a new traction system for its Central Line fleet. The challenge is made under the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006.
The commencement of the proceedings has operated automatically to suspend LUL's ability to enter into the proposed contract. LUL are seeking to lift that suspension. They wrote to the court on 18 May, urgently seeking a hearing for their application on 26 May, a date that had not been suggested to Alstom. I considered the application on paper and concluded that, since the application was going to be contested, this was an absurdly short timetable. Instead I fixed a two day hearing for 6 and 7 June 2017 which I thought was likely to be the soonest available dates that the parties could be ready for the suspension application. LUL did not make me aware of any other communications between the parties that might be relevant to the timetable.

 

[Mikey C]

So the traction motors on the 92 stock are to be replaced...hopefully they'll do the full "Trigger's Broom" on them and replace everything else as well

Incidentally, will the Waterloo and City stock be done as well?

 

[Nym]

So the traction motors on the 92 stock are to be replaced...hopefully they'll do the full "Trigger's Broom" on them and replace everything else as well

Incidentally, will the Waterloo and City stock be done as well?

Nope. Waterloo and City Line is not in scope.

 

[LiftFan]

I will miss the sound those old DC motors made, always pleasing to the ear. For certain, once the last of the DC motored Underground trains are gone (at this point the long lived 72 stock) it'll be the end of an era!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Apart from the wheels and bogie frames will just about everything under the buffer beam level get replaced?

 

[Nym]

Apart from the wheels and bogie frames will just about everything under the buffer beam level get replaced?

Given that there isn't a buffer beam, no.

Traction and Auxiliary Converters and hopefully batteries are changing.

HSCBs, Shoegear, Compressors etc will be staying the same IIRC.

 

[LU_timetabler]

Might as well just get new trains - the 92ts are falling apart anyway.