This site is best viewed at 1024x768 resolution

As this topic is of a 'continuing' and 'evolving' nature, I've decided to give it a page all to itself.

The content has been transferred from the 'main' page and will continue to be updated as and when more detail comes to hand.

Content added 15 June 2003

As has been mentioned elsewhere here the D78 Stock is long overdue its refurbishment programme to extend its service life.

It has been announced that this will be carried out by Bombardier at Ilford.

The latest information I have is that the first 3 Car unit will go to the contractors in July so that they can assess the work that is to be done.

I understand that the stock will transfer by rail, though I don't know the proposed route it will take!  There is an 'old' rail link from Platform 6 at Upminster (from where the Romford service operates) into our depot and I wonder if the intention is to reinstate this to allow a relatively easy transfer process.  This - I hasten to add - is complete speculation on my part and I'm sure I'll be proved to be wrong!

Watch this space!

Update 29 June 2003

Well - I said to watch out! 

It appears that there may have been a 'change of plan' at Bombardier as to where the work will be carried out.

It seems that they've suddenly realised that the Ilford works may be a little too small to undertake the work and that they're now considering using Wakefield as they do have 'previous' in terms of doing LU refurbishments - most recently of course the 73TS.

The first unit may however go to Derby for initial investigation before the first train is sent to Wakefield. This puzzles me a little - if the work is to be done at Wakefield why not send the first unit there and let the 'on site' team get their hands on it right away?  But ours is not to reason why - I'm sure there's a perfectly logical reason for the idea!

The latest plan seems to revolve round the D Stocks being transferred from Ealing Common depot to West Ruislip and then the transfer to National Rail can be achieved using the already well used connection there.

The word is that the first fully refurbished train will be completed by Easter 2004 - time will tell............

Update added 29 August 2003

The latest instalment

The first of the D78 Stock units finally departed from Ealing Common Depot (via the Museum Depot) by road on the 27th and 28th August 2003.

I am not certain of its final destination, but the low loaders involved in the operation were emblazoned with logos referring to the West Midlands area, though I do understand that the programme (as suggested here) will indeed be carried out at Wakefield rather than Ilford.  This seems to have been reinforced as I understand something in the order of 100 staff have recently been laid off at Ilford - this would seem an improbable move if the programme was indeed to be done there

My suggestion that this would be the case had been rather 'poo pooed', even at quite a 'senior' level so I write this update with a certain smug grin on my face. Whether the first Unit is going straight to Wakefield or not, I don't know - any readers with more detail please let me know!

The idea of transport by rail via West Ruislip seems to have been shelved as the amount Metronet wanted to charge Metronet for the use of the facilities between Hanger Lane and West Ruislip, and then West Ruislip depot itself, was too great! Of course account must be taken of the differing interests of the various former 'InfraCo's

However, I understand that the idea of reinstating the pointwork at Upminster between London Underground and the 'National' rail network is indeed to go ahead - staff will be warned that the 'old' route across the sand drag will no longer be an acceptable shortcut. So whether this will be involved in part of the programme or whether it's just seen as a 'good thing' is unclear.

Update added 20 September 2003

I'm told that the first D78 Stock Unit has indeed made its way to Wakefield where it's undergoing a 'design finalisation' programme.

Once this is complete a further Unit will follow so that a complete train can be refurbished.  I understand that it is hoped it will be returned to London Underground by the end of May 2004.

Update added 3 November 2003

I've come across a bit of detail concerning the placement of orders for equipment to be used as part of the programme. Details of this can be seen here.

Update added 13 November 2003

I understand that the next three car D Stock is to go north on 17th December 2003 - as far as I'm aware it will depart from Ealing Common Depot by road in a similar way to the first three car unit. 

I further understand that the contractors  are now reviewing the wiring on 7002 at Wakefield to see what can be left and what needs to be replaced.

Update added 16 December 2003

The next unit is now in the process of being transferred to Wakefield for Refurbishment. The unit had been at Ealing Common Depot for preparatory work. The plan was that it would form part of a service train and then be stabled at Upminster from last Thursday (11 December 2003) prior to depature.

All refurbishment units are, after all, to be moved from Upminster Depot by road. I believe this has been decided as Upminster not only allows easier access to the motorway system, but also the depot itself has more space for the moving of the larger low loaders needed for the undertaking.

I received confirmation today in the form of an email today which read as follows: 'Dave - just to let you know, the first car of the latest unit for refurb, 7021 had left Upminster depot by last night - the other 2 cars of the unit, 17021 and 8021 were still there, but 17021 was behind the lifting road, so I would guess that it will be going today, and 8021 soon after.'  Thanks to SolidBond for that.

Update added 20 December 2003 - and amended 22 December 2003

Details of the Refurbishment Programme

At long last a 'definitive' list of the works which will be included in the refurbishment programme have been made available, and the content can be read below - if you wish to see the document in full size you can do so by clicking on it.

Most of the points are pretty well self-explanatory, but where I think there is any doubt as to what is being outlined I expand below. I'll deal with the points in the order they appear, and are detailed to the best of my knowledge and understanding - I'll use the 'key words' as the point of definition! Any that I don't expand upon are really 'driver only' matters, and won't be readily noticeable to passengers - if you do want more detail though please e-mail me.

• Air Conditioning Obviously this is intended to improve the conditions for the driver, but it has an application for the safe operation of the train, in that it means that in very hot conditions the cab can be kept at a reasonable temperature without the need for the cab door being kept open, as is often the current practice.  Many of the 'deep tube' stocks already have this feature, so it will be far from unique on London Underground.
• Door Close Button At the moment the offside doors (i.e. those on the opposite side of the cab from the driver's seat) have to be closed from that side of the cab - there is not a close button on the driver's desk. This will address this issue.
• Dot Matrix   These points will bring the stock into line with the more modern (and some already refurbished) stocks. They are the 'electronic' destination and number boards now commonly seen on the Underground.
• Passenger Alarm Equipment At the present time the trains are equipped with a 'plunger' type alarm button in the train's cars. The proposal is that the new fitting will - again - be in keeping with more recently built stocks. You will find some further comment on this matter later.  Mention will also be made of the next point 'Loss of indicator'.
• Roll Back Safety Equipment Although I think this is self-explanatory from the bracketed comment, the reasoning may not be familiar.  About three years ago there was an instance where a Northern Line train rolled back uncontrolled for quite a considerable distance, and obviously there are safety implications to this scenario. Roll Back protection is to be installed on all London Underground trains to prevent such an occurrence and, for the D Stock, will be done in the context of the refurbishment programme.
• Connect Radio 'Connect' is an ongoing project which will encompass the whole of London Underground, providing vastly improved communications.  This is a real problem on the District line - communications are difficult and exacerbate delays. Benefits to customers though will not only be fewer (or at least shorter) delays but I believe 'Connect' will also mean that mobile phones (though whether on all networks I don't know) can be used in tunnel sections of the system.  Whether everyone will see this as a benefit though might be debatable!
• Car Appearance This refers to the interiors of the cars and is pretty self-explanatory, but see below for the appearance - I've added a collection of photos taken by Ray Bennett which he's taken of the interior of 17008, the one internally refurbished trailer car - my thanks to Ray for these.

So, those are the intentions. I mentioned that I would make comment on points I felt valid.  These follow.

Passenger Emergency Alarms There are  several points under this heading which I think are worthy of expansion and explanation. Most are intended to speed the process of getting a train back on the move.

• In the event of a PEA being operated the driver is alerted of where on the train the activation has occurred. His actions are to inform the Line Controller and to request the assistance of station staff - remember a driver is on his own.
• The addition of 'talk back' means that, when an alarm is activated, the driver can immediately acknowledge this and try to get more detail on the nature of the emergency and assess straight away what a) has occurred and b) in the light of this decide on further actions are appropriate and get the necessary assistance he needs to deal with the matter.
• The point concerning the 'Loss of indicator' I'm afraid leaves me at a bit of a loss!  In one of Ray's photos this (I believe) is illustrated. I don't know if there are several of these inside the car - if so it could be that there is one located adjacent to each of the alarm handles and as the handles are to be mounted at low level (see below) it will mean that the activated handle can be more easily identified in a crowded train. I emphasise this is my best guess at the moment, but I will make some enquiries and when I have an answer I'll share it with you!
• The process of resetting the alarm is also aimed towards station staff too.  At present the alarms are reset using the key which activates the train - commonly referred to as an RKL 220 key - and these are not normally issued to station staff. J Door keys are though - they're a square ended key and used for a wide variety of purposes across the Underground.
• The proposal for 'low level' alarms does concern me a little.  While I think it commendable that these are aimed towards the disabled, the reality is that they will also be within the reach of small children!  They are brightly coloured and 'just' the right size for small hands - an irresistible combination!  I guess that the decision has been taken that 'accidental' activations are a price worth paying.

What's not included? Well, from my point of view, I think the only item not mentioned is the lack of inclusion of illumination for the speedometer and air gauges - at the moment these rely on 'luminous' illumination and surely could be electrically lit quite easily - perhaps time will tell! Other than that I can't think of anything else on my 'wish list'.

My only other reservation is really around the date of completion of the first train - May 2004 is only five months away as I write this...................... time will tell!

Details of the refurbished Interior of Trailer Car 17008

As mentioned above, Ray Bennett has provided the following photos showing interior detail of the existing refurbished trailer car - the captions added (where appropriate) are my comments.

Update added 27 January 2004

I've now received some design sketches of the interior proposals for the refurbishment programme and these are reproduced below with brief captions and explanatory notes added where appropriate.</