Worst Tube Line?

[WizCastro197]

Yes I have been on it and yes it certainly is bad however in my opinion the jubilee line is worse, by "southern jubilee line" I mean anywhere south of the Thames.

The name ‘Southern jubilee line’ in this case is troublesome, as the Jubilee line crosses the Thames at Westminster and crosses back after Canada Water and then again after Canary Wharf and finally again after North Greenwich to get to Canning Town. I think the whole bit from Westminster (where the extension starts) onwards is a bit noisy underground.

 

[stuu]

Have to say I don’t get the hate for the Bakerloo. It normally runs fairly smoothly, by network standards tends to be comparatively non crowded through the centre of town, and there’s the ability to sit facing forwards which I like. The only negative is the infamous “personal security issues” north of Queen’s Park, but that’s not as bad nowadays as a couple of decades ago.

It's just a bit battered and unkempt, clearly not to the state of the tube in the past. Fair point that it does usually work well, which is obviously the key thing for a metro line, but it does feel a bit forgotten

 

[william.martin]

The name ‘Southern jubilee line’ in this case is troublesome, as the Jubilee line crosses the Thames at Westminster and crosses back after Canada Water and then again after Canary Wharf and finally again after North Greenwich to get to Canning Town. I think the whole bit from Westminster (where the extension starts) onwards is a bit noisy underground.

Yes, that's just my personal name and I agree with @Peter Sarf's post about it being imbetween London bridge and Stratford, I just couldn't remember the station names.

 

[WizCastro197]

Yes, that's just my personal name and I agree with @Peter Sarf's post about it being imbetween London bridge and Stratford, I just couldn't remember the station names.

No worries, I was just a little confused!

 

[TRAX]

I’d say my favourite in general (including rolling stock) is the Jubilee. But the Victoria (including stock too) is right up there too. And the Bakerloo’s atmosphere is fantastic it’ll become a much less interesting line once it (eventually) gets new stock.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

What do you think is the worst Tube Line?
For me, it's the Bakerloo Line for the following reasons:

• The Bakerloo Line has the oldest rolling stock in regular passenger service in the UK.
• Most of the where the Bakerloo Line goes is served by other lines or the Overground.
• The Bakerloo Line has a Zone 1 terminus (unlike most other tube lines) at Elephant and Castle.
• The northern section of the line is duplicated by the Overground Watford Junction to Euston route.

Each to their own of course, but I'd have to disagree with that, I'm afraid.

I think the Bakerloo Line is probably my favourite of the lot - always (relatively) empty and full of historic interest.

By far, my worst would have to be the Central Line - every godforsaken journey on the line feels like one long journey to Hell and back, unbelievably hot temperatures melt you from the inside out as you venture deeper and deeper into subterranean London.

By Liverpool Street, the carriage itself starts to melt and warp around the strange, awful conjoined beast that is commuters and horrified tourists, and by Holborn, flames become visible from outside the ultra-tinted windows as the train screams its way through the tunnels of this Oyster-gated inferno.

TL;DR - Central Line: hot, stuffy and drab, gloomy trains.

 

[william.martin]

I think the Bakerloo Line is probably my favourite of the lot - always (relatively) empty and full of historic interest.

I agree with it being full of historic interest however I disagree with the bakerloo line being relatively empty, I have never experienced a chair on the line as I only ever travel in zone 1.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

I agree with it being full of historic interest however I disagree with the bakerloo line being relatively empty, I have never experienced a chair on the line as I only ever travel in zone 1.

I also typically only travel on the line in Zone 1 - mainly between Waterloo and Piccadilly Circus - and I've always gotten a seat (and am sometimes the only one in the carriage). But then I aim for the very front carriage so that may somewhat play a part.

The Bakerloo Line certainly isn't as crowded as the other lines though, hence why I said relatively.

 

[Horizon22]

Central is probably my least favourite. Still relatively busy (despite Elizabeth line), feels like it takes ages due to its indirect routing and in summer, you literally bake. And of late seems to be unreliable due to "train cancellations".

I can understand why people might think the Bakerloo and also feels incredibly slow and old, but it's nice that it is often so quiet, even within Zone 1.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Feb 2023 ==

Oh yes. I have to remember not to use the Jubilee Line between London Bridge and Stratford. The noise is horrendous, it is really really deafening even for me but even worse for my Granddaughter. It is really something TfL need to do something about.

Ditto Bethanl Green to Leyton. The noise came up in the London Assembly recently if I recall correctly.

 

[bramling]

I agree with it being full of historic interest however I disagree with the bakerloo line being relatively empty, I have never experienced a chair on the line as I only ever travel in zone 1.

It’s the only line where it’s possible during the day to have a car to one’s self for the complete journey through zone 1. Head for the rear car on a southbound train starting at Queen’s Park for this experience, though it’s a little harder to get now the timetable has been thinner out a little from what it was pre Covid. Doesn’t happen northbound because of where the platform entrance is at Waterloo. It’s a lot less busy than the other lines, something TFL themselves recognise. That said, the Northern Line can be surprisingly quiet in the central area during some off-peak times, especially Kennington/Edgware trains.

For historical interest, nothing surpasses the Northern Line, though much of this is hidden from public view sadly.

 

[william.martin]

It’s the only line where it’s possible during the day to have a car to one’s self for the complete journey through zone 1. Head for the rear car on a southbound train starting at Queen’s Park for this experience, though it’s a little harder to get now the timetable has been thinner out a little from what it was pre Covid. Doesn’t happen northbound because of where the platform entrance is at Waterloo. It’s a lot less busy than the other lines, something TFL themselves recognise. That said, the Northern Line can be surprisingly quiet in the central area during some off-peak times, especially Kennington/Edgware trains.

For historical interest, nothing surpasses the Northern Line, though much of this is hidden from public view sadly.

Probably didn't help that the entire northern line was shut on that day, maybe it's just my luck.

 

[Intercity110]

Central because it gets so hot and crowded

 

[WizCastro197]

Central because it gets so hot and crowded

Can't that apply to any deep level tube line?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2023 ==

Probably didn't help that the entire northern line was shut on that day, maybe it's just my luck.

Was this around the Bank branch closure?

 

[Intercity110]

Can't that apply to any deep level tube line?

it seems to be worst on central.

 

[william.martin]

Can't that apply to any deep level tube line?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2023 ==


Was this around the Bank branch closure?

Yes, near the end of the closure however for some reason that day the Charing X line was shut aswell.

 

[PTR 444]

For me, it has got to be the Central Line. Hot, overcrowded and not much of interest to see. I haven’t used it since the Elizabeth Line opened but I imagine that has taken some of the crowds and made it slightly more bearable.

As for the other lines ranked from second worst to best:

Hammersmith & City - Not a bad line in itself but you’ll be lucky to get on it in the first place as the service is relatively infrequent for a tube line.
Circle - Same as the above really. Might have had more appeal if they had kept it as a true circular route.
Victoria - Trains are good but overcrowding is rife, and the line is fully underground so not much to see.
Piccadilly - Slightly better than the Victoria with more above ground sections.
Northern - A varied line with a mixture of old and new. The Battersea extension is superb (but noisy!) although the journey through the older sections can feel rather long and tedious.
District - The trains are superb, line is varied but can still get boring if used regularly.
Jubilee - The newer JLE stations are super-impressive, but the overcrowding and deafening noise of the journey detracts from this somewhat.
Metropolitan - A very varied and interesting journey, with the same train from the rural Chilterns taking you underground into the heart of the big city.
Waterloo & City - An interesting journey and one that is mostly quiet, but disappointingly short.
Bakerloo (least worst/best) - The best part is that you can always get a seat. The rolling stock is old but that adds to the nostalgia appeal.

 

[Purple Train]

What do you mean by 'noise'? Do you mean noise from announcements or when the train is moving, the noise from reverberation of track? You should try the Battersea Extension, that one is really loud!

The latter.
If the Battersea extension is louder than the Jubilee Line Extension, then I need to invest in a proper pair of earmuffs before I use it, I feel.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2023 ==

I like the Central Line simply out of a soft spot for the '92 stock.

 

[Mikey C]

A bit of a rarity, but I was on a RAMMED Bakerloo Line train yesterday at Paddington. No Elizabeth Line trains and lots of rugby fans returning from Cardiff.

My least favourite line would be the Central, due to not liking the 92 stock trains, with their tiny and low seating and greenhouse windows, as if they were designed to grow tomatoes and cucumbers!

 

[Taunton]

Most are fine, but I find the regularity and journey time of the Hammersmith & City has really gone down even more than in past years.

I always find the Bakerloo fine and pleasant, regular intervals, great seats, well refurbished, etc. May even be one of my favourites. Amusing moment some years ago, travelling Baker Street to Holland Park with two lady companions, one of whom, arrogant in life, had done the journey several times before, and thus "knew it all" about the Underground. As ever with such people, was late getting away from the office, was all in a fluster, and everything was everyone else's fault. Down to the split point between Bakerloo and Jubilee passages, I say "We'll go this way, Bakerloo to Oxford Circus and change there, nice classic 1970s trains with comfortable seats, because ...", only to find Ms Arrogant grabbing our joint friend by the arm, and storming off to the Jubilee before I can finish the sentence, shouting "I know where I'm going, no time for his trains nonsense" and similar.

It was, however, the period when Bond Street on the Central had been recently closed, about eight years ago (2015?), for the Crossrail works. Guess who knew, and who didn't. So off they dashed before I could point out the omission. On I go, nice little first stage in the 1970s Bakerloo ambience, get to our meeting punctually, and it's been going for about an hour when the other two arrive, breathless and dishevelled. Of course, it was subsequently All My Fault. Should have said ("I did ..."). Should have said louder, not all that rubbish about old trains ("I tried to, but ...").

It was enhanced by the temporary signing at Bond Street having been done very thoroughly, removing every indication of the Central Line transfer, so when they went to follow the transfer signs ... there weren't any. After a long time under they eventually go up to the gateline and ask. Guess what they were told - take the Jubilee back to Baker Street, Bakerloo to Oxford Circus and change there .

 

[PeterY]

Bakerloo line is my fav Central is my least fav

I love the Bakerloo line. It's like stepping back in time. I know it won't be like that for much longer?

The Central line trains tend to be dark, stuffy and often over crowded.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Fascinating that there seems to be a very clear majority for liking the Bakerloo most and liking the Central least, with no other candidates in contention for the top/bottom spots; which is nice because I'm often out on a limb in my opinions here...

 

[Mikey C]

Fascinating that there seems to be a very clear majority for liking the Bakerloo most and liking the Central least, with no other candidates in contention for the top/bottom spots; which is nice because I'm often out on a limb in my opinions here...

Central least, not sure about the first place one.

Victoria for its speed AND better headroom than the other tube lines, or Metropolitan Line for where it goes outside of London

 

[WF4HA5HE]

Central line hands down is the worst. I find it always stuffy and overcrowded, it's so dark and dingy and the stock is awful so loud and uncomfortable to ride but I have to say the bakerloo, I never really find it too over crowded but that line gives me the most anxiety. Those trains are so old now and the thought of one breaking down and getting stuck underground is a no no for me.

 

[bramling]

I love the Bakerloo line. It's like stepping back in time. I know it won't be like that for much longer?

The Central line trains tend to be dark, stuffy and often over crowded.

Can’t see much changing on the Bakerloo for a few years at least. At the moment it’s a toss up between the Bakerloo and Central lines as to whose trains will fall apart first.

The Central was quite efficient for a time after the 1990s modernisation ended. Indeed stuff like the ATP/ATO system is very well designed indeed. The problem seem to have then been an element of planning blight, in particular that remedial work on the trains should have started ages ago, as their reliability has been poor for very many years, and LU has known about this so can’t claim it’s something which has suddenly arisen out of the blue. Rather unfortunately it does seem to be the case that the signalling is starting to go the same way, though there are workstreams in place on this as well. As ever the curse of 90s electronics seems to be a factor.

The PPP unfortunately focussed on quick wins, hence a lot of very visible but not particularly urgent station work was done, and in some cases rather arbitrarily picking stations which didn’t really need much work. The Picc between King’s Cross and Cockfosters is an example of this - pretty much all the stations were in a comparable condition at the turn of the century, yet we now have a situation where some have been completely stripped and refurbished whilst others are virtually untouched. Why, for example, would Arsenal need a full refurb whilst neighbouring Holloway Road was barely touched?

 

[PGAT]

Summary of the thread so far:

Central Line worst
Bakerloo Line love or hate

 

[Peter Sarf]

I like the IOW line because it has the most fresh air.

(I'll get my coat).

 

[Thirteen]

The Victoria Line is good because of the frequency but it does get very overcrowded. I do have a real soft spot on the Waterloo and City.

 

[WizCastro197]

The Victoria Line is good because of the frequency but it does get very overcrowded. I do have a real soft spot on the Waterloo and City.

Everyone gets off at Victoria anyway.

 

[RichJF]

If you go to Paris or Berlin there's still 60s/70s vintage trains still going, so just because the Bakerloo is a bit older than the rest doesn't mean it's an embarrassment.

The Central Line is THE WORST by an absolute mile. Smelly, hot, slow, loud, constant delays, trains are unwelcoming.

 

[trebor79]

I love the Bakerloo precisely because it feels like a forgotten backwater. It reminds me of the late 1980s/1990s. The trains still make the "tube train sound" (though not as loud as some of the older stock from other lines that is now long withdrawn).

Circle/Hammersmith and City the worst for me. Slow, sometimes very long gaps between trains and sometimes interminable time sat at stations. Thankfully Crossrail makes the Liverpool Street to Paddington transfer much quicker and more reliable now.