| A60 and A62 Stock | |
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| Manufacturer | Cravens |
| In service | 1959-2011 (A60) 1962-2012 (A62) |
| Lines served | Metropolitan East London (History) |
| Length per car | 16.17 m |
| Width | 2.95 m |
| Height | 3.70 m |
| Maximum speed | 70 mph (capped to 50 mph) |
| Weight | 21.8-32.1 tonnes |
| Stock type | Subsurface |
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The A Stock is the type of train used on the Metropolitan Line of the London Underground. It was built in two batches (A60 and A62) by Cravens of Sheffield in the late 1950s. The trains replaced all the previous stock then used on the Metropolitan Line (such as F Stock, P Stock, T Stock and locomotive hauled carriages.) The A Stock is due to be replaced by new trains of S Stock from 2010.
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A60 and A62 Stock
The A60 Stock was built in 1959-61 by Cravens of Sheffield for the extension of the electrification from Rickmansworth to Amersham.
The A62 Stock is a batch of almost identical units, built in 1961-63 for Uxbridge services. They are both commonly known simply as 'A' stock, as there is no need to distinguish between the two batches (or between them and the 1903 trains, also known as "A Stock"). The only significant difference between the A60 and A62 types is their compressors: although both of the reciprocating type, the compressors fitted to the A60s are the Westinghouse DHC 5A, whereas the A62s have the Reavell TBC 38Z; the different sound of these can act as an identifying feature.
The former East London Line also used A Stock trains. The East London line was closed in 2007 for conversion to become part of the London Overground network.
Although introduced in 1959 on the Watford branch , the basis of the A Stock was designed in the 1930s by W S Graff-Baker.[1] The late rollout was due to World War II, and the lack of funds available during the austerity period which followed the war.
The 'A' in the unit designation stands for 'Amersham', as the trains were ordered as part of the electrification of the Metropolitan Line to that station.
Operations
The trains were required to be a compromise between the needs of longer distance 'outer suburban' passengers on the outer reaches of the line and short distance 'urban' passengers over part of the heavily trafficked Circle line. For this reason they feature three sets of doors per carriage.
They work in an eight-car permanent formation on the Metropolitan Line, and worked in a four-car formation on the East London Line until 22 December 2007 when the line was closed for refurbishment and extension. One four-car unit operates the Chesham to Chalfont & Latimer shuttle. They were refurbished by Adtranz (now Bombardier) Derby between 1994 and 1997[2].
When built they had a top speed of 70 mph (World's fastest 4-rail train), and operated at this speed until the late 1990s/early 2000s. They are capped now to only 50 mph to improve reliability. Despite this, these trains are the fastest on the London Underground network. The A60/62 trains are the only ones left on London underground that still feature independent brake and traction control.[3]
A distinctive feature of this stock is 'transverse' seating. Being designed for journeys which can last over an hour, the seating is of the high capacity 3 + 2 design[3], being oriented across the car's width as opposed to a longitudinal layout, where seats are arranged along the sides of the carriage. Nevertheless, despite each 8-car train seating 448 passengers[2], these trains still provide fewer seats than the locomotive-hauled and T stock trains they replaced. However, the stock provides more seats than the S Stock, which will replace the A Stock from 2010.
For the convenience of longer distance passengers the A stock is also equipped with luggage racks and umbrella hooks, being the only stock on the system to have these features thus being dubbed as the only proper train on the system.
At 9'8" (approx 2.95 m) these are London Underground's widest trains.[4]
The A stock is the only stock currently on the London Underground not to have any voice announcements.
Replacement
An order has been placed for new rolling stock to replace the A60 and A62 units. On the Metropolitan Line, the new S Stock will enter service around 2010, while the East London Line will receive new Class 378 Electrostar rolling stock once its extensions are open.[5]
Although the S Stock trains are expected to be physically identical for all the sub-surface lines (Metropolitan, District, Circle and Hammersmith & City) Metropolitan trains will be 8 car, not 7, and will be a separate sub-fleet. It is likely that the Metropolitan S Stock will have more seats than those trains for the other lines.[citation needed]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: London Underground A60 Stock |
- ^ "Classics of everyday design No 33". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/artblog/2007/oct/22/classicsofeverydaydesignno33.
- ^ a b "'A' Stock". Transport for London. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/londonunderground/rollingstock/1614.aspx.
- ^ a b "A60/62 stock". SQUAREWHEELS.org.uk. http://www.squarewheels.org.uk/rly/stock/AsubsurfaceStock/.
- ^ "London Underground Rolling Stock Dimensions". London Underground. http://www.trainweb.org/tubeprune/Dimensions.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
- ^ "New London Overground Class 378s take shape at Derby" (PDF). The Railway Herald. September 22, 2008. http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/issues/RHUK/Issue148.pdf.
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