Now that the tube prices have skyrocketed, does anyone know of any
plans to upgrade the District Line trains. These carriages look like
they have been in service since time itself began.

Even if there are no plans to upgrade the trains, why not just give
them a lick of paint? The old dirty grey carriages look horrific next
to the nice Picadilly line trains at early Hammersmith, earls court etc

Maybe its just a Sunday afternoon moan, but doesn't anyone else agree
that it's time to bring the District Line out of the stone age?
Yours Grumpily,
Dan

Dan Watson wrote:

Now that the tube prices have skyrocketed, does anyone know of any
plans to upgrade the District Line trains. These carriages look like
they have been in service since time itself began.

There is one refurbished prototype carriage doing the rounds, which I've
seen once.

I think if you try a Google Groups search, someone posted a link to
pictures last time I asked about ot.

Dave Newt wrote:
Dan Watson wrote:

Now that the tube prices have skyrocketed, does anyone know of any
plans to upgrade the District Line trains. These carriages look
like they have been in service since time itself began.

There is one refurbished prototype carriage doing the rounds, which
I've seen once.

I think if you try a Google Groups search, someone posted a link to
pictures last time I asked about ot.

The prototype has been around for some time. Metronet have now started
the full refurbishment programme, and the first unit from that is now
being tried out in passenger service. There are some photos on District
Dave's site, e.g.
http://www.trainweb.org/districtdave...test_tr_4.html
(Click on the Up arrow for more details of the programme.)
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

Thanks for the link. The new trains look /marginly/ better i suppose,
but will probably still have a top speed equal to that of a penny
farthing.

At least they have red doors though!

Dan Watson wrote:
Now that the tube prices have skyrocketed, does anyone know of any
plans to upgrade the District Line trains. These carriages look like
they have been in service since time itself began.

Even if there are no plans to upgrade the trains, why not just give
them a lick of paint? The old dirty grey carriages look horrific next
to the nice Picadilly line trains at early Hammersmith, earls court
etc

Maybe its just a Sunday afternoon moan, but doesn't anyone else agree
that it's time to bring the District Line out of the stone age?

The trains currently in use on the District were brought into service in
1980 and are last in line for refurbishment because they were the last
(apart from the current Central and Northern Line trains) to be introduced.

You'll be pleased to learn that a refurbishment programme, to bring them up
to the same appearance as the Piccadilly Line trains (introduced in 1975).

StaticFish wrote:

Thanks for the link. The new trains look /marginly/ better i suppose,
but will probably still have a top speed equal to that of a penny
farthing.

AFAIR Signalling issue, you wouldn't want to bump into the train ahead?

At least they have red doors though!

Couldn't find the doors? ;-)

SCNR

The Piccadilly trains were brought in 1975?! Blimey. They look lovely
compared to the "newer" District line trains. If the district line
trains are almost the last to be renewed, why do they looks so crappy
compared to all of the other "slimline trains". I'd rather just have
Piccadilly fast looking slimline trains on the district line that
those huge slow things

Brimstone wrote:
Dan Watson wrote:
Now that the tube prices have skyrocketed, does anyone know of any
plans to upgrade the District Line trains. These carriages look
like
they have been in service since time itself began.

Even if there are no plans to upgrade the trains, why not just give
them a lick of paint? The old dirty grey carriages look horrific
next
to the nice Picadilly line trains at early Hammersmith, earls court
etc

Maybe its just a Sunday afternoon moan, but doesn't anyone else
agree
that it's time to bring the District Line out of the stone age?

The trains currently in use on the District were brought into service
in
1980 and are last in line for refurbishment because they were the
last
(apart from the current Central and Northern Line trains) to be
introduced.

You'll be pleased to learn that a refurbishment programme, to bring
them up
to the same appearance as the Piccadilly Line trains (introduced in
1975).

StaticFish wrote:
The Piccadilly trains were brought in 1975?! Blimey. They look
lovely compared to the "newer" District line trains.

That's because they've already been refurbished.

If the district line trains are almost the last to be renewed, why do
they looks so crappy compared to all of the other "slimline
trains".

They are the last ones that currently need refurbishment. The Central,
Jubilee and Northern lines have stock dating from 1992-96, so don't yet
need refurbishment. The District Line trains look shabby because they
are unpainted aluminium that has suffered from graffiti removal
chemicals, whereas all other trains are painted.

I'd rather just have Piccadilly fast looking slimline
trains on the district line that those huge slow things

They are no slower than most other trains. I think the top speed is 50
mph compared with the Piccadilly's 45 mph. Acceleration is at least as
good as the Piccadilly trains, based on my experience of simultaneous
departures from Hammersmith.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

StaticFish wrote:
The Piccadilly trains were brought in 1975?! Blimey. They look lovely
compared to the "newer" District line trains.

The Piccadilly Line trains were refurbished in the mid 1990s. Prior to that
they too were unpainted aluminium as were all trains. The only reason LU
trains are painted at all is because of the increase in the amount of
graffitti over the last 15-20 years or so.

StaticFish wrote:
The Piccadilly trains were brought in 1975?! Blimey. They look lovely
compared to the "newer" District line trains. If the district line
trains are almost the last to be renewed, why do they looks so
crappy
compared to all of the other "slimline trains". I'd rather just have
Piccadilly fast looking slimline trains on the district line that
those huge slow things

To be honest I rather like "those huge slow things". They fit more
people in