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| Preserved DM 3734 at the London Transport Museum Depot Acton |
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Number built: | 189 (31½ 6-car sets) |
| Built: | 1983-86 |
| Builder: | Metro-Cammell |
| Engine: | Brush LT122 traction motors (630v DC fourth rail) |
| Power: | 960 hp (720 kW) |
| Formation: | Driving Motor (DM)+Trailer (T)+DM+[DM+T+DM] |
The 1983 Tube Stock was based on the near contemporary sub-surface D78 Stock in some ways including the use of single leaf doors [2]. When the trains were being designed, passenger levels on the tube were in decline but levels picked up dramatically after the trains were built. The single-leaf doors proved to be a problem for slow unloading and loading at stations, the resulting increased dwell times causing numerous problems on the line. There were also problems with reliability of the electrical equipment. The 1983 Tube Stock bought with it a number of technical innovations such as Kiepe design traction equipment [3], unfortunately some of them proved to be unsuccessful.
When the Jubilee Line Extension through to Stratford was being planned in the 1990s the initial plan was to refurbish and upgrade the 1983 Tube Stock to match the new 1996 Tube Stock then being designed for the Jubilee. In the end however it was thought cheaper to withdraw the older trains and just run 1996 Tube Stock on the line. The 1983 Tube Stock was withdrawn from the Jubilee in the Summer of 1998.
There were attempts to re-use these (relatively) new trains. One plan was for them to go to the Piccadilly Line but this proved to be too expensive. They were also considered for the Isle of Wight Island Line but were considered too "digital" and the Island Line decided to hold out for 1973 Tube Stock instead though ultimately this was in vain. However the Island Line will get ex-D78 Stock instead.
Some cars have been preserved including four cars used as artists studios on top of a building in Shoreditch. Others are used for emergency services training in Sunderland and Derbyshire. Some stored stock was only removed and scrapped in 2015 though it had been badly vandalised by then.
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| Cab of a 1983 Tube Stock train |
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| Aboard 3734 |
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| Former 1983 Tube Stock cars in Shoreditch |
[1] John Glover, ABC London Underground (Ian Allan, 1997) p. 63
[2] J. Graeme Bruce, The London Underground Tube Stock (Ian Allan, 1988) p. 120
[3] D.K. Ware, "London's 1983 Tube Stock", Proceedings of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers Vol 198D:11, p. 158