# London Underground 1972 Stock

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Type of rolling stock used on the Bakerloo line of the London Underground

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London Underground 1972 Stock A Bakerloo line 1972 Stock at Stonebridge Park The interior of a refurbished 1972 Stock trailer car Stock type Deep-level tube In service 26 June 1972–present Manufacturer Metro-Cammell[1] Built at Washwood Heath, England[1] Replaced 1938 Stock 1959 Stock Constructed 1972–1974[1] Entered service 26 June 1972 Refurbished Tickford (at Rosyth Dockyard) 1991–1995[1] Acton Works, 2016–2018[2] Number built 63 trains Number in service 36 trains Successor 1983 Stock (Jubilee Line) 1995 Stock (Northern Line) Formation 7 cars per train Capacity 851 per train Lines served Current: Bakerloo line Historically: Jubilee and Northern lines Specifications Train length 113.552 m (372 ft 6.6 in) Car length DM 16.091 m (52 ft 9.5 in) T/UNDM 15.977 m (52 ft 5.0 in) Width 2.641 m (8 ft 8.0 in) Height 2.875 m (9 ft 5.2 in) Maximum speed 72 km/h (45 mph) Traction system Pneumatic single camshaft (Associated Electrical Industries)[1] Traction motors LT115 DC motor (Brush Traction)[1] Seating 40 per DM/UNDM car 36 per T car 264 per train Notes/references London transport portal

The **London Underground 1972 Stock** is a type of [rolling stock](/source/Rolling_stock) used on the [London Underground](/source/London_Underground). The 1972 Stock was originally ordered to make up the shortfall in trains on the [Northern line](/source/Northern_line)'s [1959 Tube Stock](/source/London_Underground_1959_Stock) fleet, but are now used on the [Bakerloo line](/source/Bakerloo_line). Following the withdrawal of the [1938 Stock](/source/London_Underground_1938_Stock)-based [British Rail Class 483](/source/British_Rail_Class_483) electric multiple units from the [Isle of Wight](/source/Island_Line%2C_Isle_of_Wight) in 2021, the 1972 Stock are now the oldest trains in regular passenger service in the United Kingdom. 63 seven-car trains were built in two separate batches.

## Construction

441 cars were built by [Metro-Cammell](/source/Metro-Cammell) at [Washwood Heath](/source/Washwood_Heath), in two batches: the 1972 Mark I Stock comprised 90 driving motors (DM), 90 trailers (T) and 30 uncoupling non-driving motors (UNDM), to form 30 seven-car trains; the 1972 Mark II Stock was 33 seven-car trains (99 DM, 99 T and 33 UNDM).[3]

In the early 1970s, the [1938 Tube stock](/source/London_Underground_1938_Stock) on the [Bakerloo](/source/Bakerloo_line) and [Northern line](/source/Northern_line) was life-expired and due for replacement. Tentative designs for a new Northern line fleet were abandoned when the go-ahead was given for the [Piccadilly line](/source/Piccadilly_line) to be extended to [Heathrow Airport](/source/Heathrow_Airport). That required a totally new fleet of trains to replace the [1959 stock](/source/London_Underground_1959_Stock) then in use. The plan was made to transfer the 1959 trains to the Northern, to allow the worst of the 1938 stock there to be scrapped, but there were only 76 1959 stock trains, and the Northern line needed more than that to operate. Originally, it was planned to refurbish around 30 of the 1938 trains, but this was scrapped in favour of 30 new trains of the 1972 Mark 1 Tube stock.

The 1972 Tube stock was ordered in a hurry, so there was no time to create a new design; the trains were based on the [1967 Tube stock](/source/London_Underground_1967_Stock) on the [Victoria line](/source/Victoria_line). Although almost identical looking, the 1972 trains were conventionally operated with a guard and door controls in the rear car, and were not compatible with 1967 Tube stock. In later years some surplus 1972 Mark 1 cars were adapted to run with the 1967 trains on the Victoria line, being coupled in the middle due to the lack of ATO equipment.

A further 33 trains of 1972 Tube stock were ordered to provide service on the [Northern line](/source/Northern_line). The 1972 Mark 2 stock had slightly different interiors with a dark blue seating moquette, unlike the red and grey on the earlier 1967 and 1972 cars. The biggest external difference was that the doors were painted red, with a [London Transport](/source/London_Transport_Executive_(GLC)) roundel on the side of the carriages, rather than the [Johnston](/source/Johnston_(typeface)) lettering.

The 1972 Mark 2 trains first operated on the Northern line alongside the 1972 Mark 1 trains. From the late 1970s, they were gradually transferred to the Bakerloo line and operated alongside the 1938 Stock until they began operating on the Jubilee line when it opened in 1979. With the introduction of the first batch of [1983 stock](/source/London_Underground_1983_Stock) on the Jubilee line in 1984, half of the 1972 Mark 2 trains were displaced back to the Northern line. After the introduction of a second batch of 1983 Stock on the Jubilee in 1987, all 1972 Mark 2 trains on the Jubilee and Northern lines were gradually converted to OPO and transferred to the Bakerloo line to displace the 1959 stock, where they remain in service.

In 1989, several Northern line Mark 1 units were painted in experimental liveries, and three trains were internally refurbished, before the refurbishment work was stopped because of the decision to order a new fleet. 3227 and 3518 were painted with blue doors and a white body, 3204 and 3522 were painted with a blue and white body, and 3202 and 3523 were painted in what would become a corporate livery. The earlier 1972 Mark 1 stock on the Northern line was replaced by [1995 Stock](/source/London_Underground_1995_Stock) in 1999. After being withdrawn from the Northern line, a few cars of 1972 Mark 1 stock were converted to run with 1967 and 1972 Mark 2 stock in service on the Victoria and Bakerloo lines.

A further two trains were converted to be compatible with the Mark II type, and these now run on the Bakerloo line. One ex-Northern line set (3229) was based at the now-closed [Aldwych station](/source/Aldwych_tube_station), for use in films until being sent to Ealing Common Depot in November 2021 and then [Ruislip depot](/source/Ruislip_Depot) a month later. Another Mark 1 unit in a trial livery was sent to Acton Works to be used for shunting. One three-car unit (unit 3511)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] used to reside at Hainault depot until October 2018, where cars 4511 and 3411 had moved to Acton Works. The cab of unit 3511 had been fused onto unit 3538 following collision damage.

The 1972 trains are formed of seven-car sets and have a total of 268 passenger seats. After withdrawal from the Northern Line, five four-car units (units 3201, 3208, 3211, 3212 and 3230)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] were considered for use on the [Waterloo and City line](/source/Waterloo_%26_City_line). The objective was to supply the Central line with extra 1992 stock. This never happened and the trains were sent to Mayer Perry or [CF Booth](/source/CF_Booth) of [Rotherham](/source/Rotherham) to be scrapped.

### Refurbishment

The fleet was refurbished between 1991 and 1995 by [Tickford](/source/Tickford) at [Rosyth Dockyard](/source/Rosyth_Dockyard).[1] From 2016 to 2018, the fleet was again refurbished at [Acton Works](/source/Acton_Works) to enable the trains to remain in service until their forecast replacement date of 2035.[2] The class received the [Class 499/2](/source/British_Rail_Class_499_(London_Underground)) designation on [British Rail](/source/British_Rail)'s [TOPS](/source/TOPS) system to operate on the Bakerloo line north of [Queens Park](/source/Queen's_Park_station_(England)).[4]

In 2014 British textile design studio Wallace Sewell made a newly coloured version of the 2009 Barman [Moquette](/source/Moquette) for the 1972 stock currently on the Central, Northern and Jubilee lines. It features warm colours reflective of the Bakerloo line as opposed to the blue-based original Barman.[5]

## Roster

1972 Tube Stock at [Kilburn High Road](/source/Kilburn_High_Road_station)

1972 Mark 1 stock cab

1972 Mark II stock in its original form at [South Kenton](/source/South_Kenton_station)

← Elephant & Castle (A) Harrow & Wealdstone (D) → Formation 32xx (DM) 42xx (T) 43xx (T) 33xx (DM) 34xx (UNDM) 45xx (T) 35xx (DM) Numbers[1] Mark I 3264 : 3267 4264 : 4267 4364 : 4365 3364 : 3365 3464 : 3467 4564 : 4567 3564 : 3567 4367 3367 Mark II 3231 : : : 3248 4231 : : : 4248 4331 : : : 4348 3331 : : : 3348 3431 : 3438 4531 : 4538 3531 : 3538 3440 : 3463 4540 : 4563 3540 : 3563 3250 : 3256 4250 : 4256 4350 : 4356 3350 : 3356 3258 : 3263 4258 : 4263 4358 : 4363 3358 : 3363 4366 3366 3299 4299 4399 3399

## Future replacement

Main article: [London Underground 2024 Stock](/source/London_Underground_2024_Stock)

In the late 1990s, the Labour government initiated a [public–private partnership](/source/Public%E2%80%93private_partnership) (PPP) to reverse years of underinvestment in [London Underground](/source/London_Underground).[6] Under the PPP contract, [Metronet](/source/Metronet_(British_infrastructure_company)) (the private consortium responsible for the Bakerloo line) would order new rolling stock for the Bakerloo line.[7][8] This would take place following the delivery of [2009 Stock](/source/London_Underground_2009_Stock) and [S Stock](/source/London_Underground_S7_and_S8_Stock) trains, with an order for 24 new [Bakerloo line](/source/Bakerloo_line) trains. These would have entered service by 2019.[7] However, Metronet collapsed in 2007 after cost overruns, and the PPP ended in 2010.[9]

In the mid 2010s, TfL began a process of ordering new rolling stock to replace trains on the Piccadilly, Central, Bakerloo and Waterloo & City lines.[10] A feasibility study showed that new-generation trains and resignalling could increase capacity on the Bakerloo line by 25%, with 27 trains per hour.[10]

In June 2018, the [Siemens Mobility](/source/Siemens_Mobility) [Inspiro](/source/Siemens_Inspiro) design was selected.[11] These trains will have an open-gangway design, wider doorways, air conditioning and the ability to run automatically with a new signalling system.[12] TfL could only afford to order Piccadilly line trains at a cost of £1.5bn.[13] However, the contract with Siemens includes an option for 40 trains for the Bakerloo line in the future.[14] This would take place after the delivery of the Piccadilly line trains in the late 2020s.[12] Based on a November 2021 paper, due to a lack of funding, this might not happen until the late 2030s or early 2040s, when the trains would be 60 to 70 years old — probably double their design life.[15] Since the withdrawal of the [Class 483 on the Isle of Wight](/source/British_Rail_Class_483), the 1972-stock trains have become the oldest non-heritage trains running in the United Kingdom.

## Post-withdrawal use

Subseries Car number(s) Notes Mark I 3213-4213 3313-4313 Converted into Asset Inspection Train: see below. Mark I 3214-3314 Cab of 3214 was converted into a static tourist exhibit at the Hamleys toy store. Since late 2018, the cab was up for sale on eBay since being replaced by Harry Potter merchandise. Cab of 3314 in storage at The Cab Yard.[16] Mark I 3229-4229 4329-3329 Formerly used for filming and training purposes. Stripped for spares at Ruislip depot in 2022, and awaiting scrapping in Staffordshire as of October 2023.[citation needed] Mark I 3530 Preserved at the Acton Depot of the London Transport Museum in Acton, London Borough of Ealing[17]

### Asset Inspection Train

1972 MkI Tube Stock 3313 incorporated into the Asset Inspection Train (AIT)

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Middle two cars are 67DM vehicles - 3079, 3179. Front 2 and rear two are 72 Mark 1 stock

- Front two (72 Mark 1) 3313-4313

- Rear two (72 Mark 1) 4213-3213

Units 3079 & 3179 were overhauled at [Eastleigh Works](/source/Eastleigh_Works) following withdrawal with no cab windows and new cables leading into each other. The AIT (Asset Inspection Train) was to replace the Track Recording Train (1960 Stock DMs and [73 Stock](/source/London_Underground_1973_Stock) T) which is currently in use. However, in July 2021 the AIT was scrapped at LKM Recycling Sittingbourne. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wdtk-lu_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wdtk-lu_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-wdtk-lu_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-wdtk-lu_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-wdtk-lu_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-wdtk-lu_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-wdtk-lu_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-wdtk-lu_1-7) Neil, Graham (4 August 2015). ["London Underground Rolling Stock Information Sheet"](https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/cy/request/284276/response/737827/attach/6/RS%20Info%20Sheets%204%20Edition.pdf) (PDF). *WhatDoTheyKnow*. Retrieved 17 April 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-otm_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-otm_2-1) "Back on the Bakerloo". *On the Move* (64). [London Underground](/source/London_Underground)/[Transport for London](/source/Transport_for_London): 3. July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hardy, Brian (1976). *London Underground Rolling Stock*. Stanmore: Capital Transport. pp. 28–29. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-904711-01-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-904711-01-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "LUL stock given TOPS numbers". *[The Railway Magazine](/source/The_Railway_Magazine)*. No. 1145. September 1996. p. 57.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Transport | Wallace Sewell Projects"](https://wallacesewell.com/pages/transport). *Wallace Sewell*. Retrieved 16 August 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:42_6-0)** ["New blow to Tube sell-off plan"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1072193.stm). *BBC News*. 16 December 2000. Retrieved 7 March 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:12_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:12_7-1) ["Metronet Brochure 2005"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061031091812/http://www.metronetrail.com/webfiles/Publications/Brochure%202005.pdf) (PDF). Metronet. 2005. Archived from [the original](http://www.metronetrail.com/webfiles/Publications/Brochure%202005.pdf) (PDF) on 31 October 2006. Retrieved 7 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:13_8-0)** ["Details of Tube modernisation plans unveiled"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060519094016/http://www.tubelines.com/news/releases/200602/20030108.aspx) (Press release). Tube Lines. 8 January 2003. Archived from [the original](http://www.tubelines.com/news/releases/200602/20030108.aspx) on 19 May 2006. Retrieved 8 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:22_9-0)** ["Metronet calls in administrators"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6903977.stm). *BBC News*. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_10-1) ["New Tube for London - Feasibility Report"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161130154257/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/ntfl-feasibility-report.pdf) (PDF). Transport for London. October 2014. Archived from [the original](http://content.tfl.gov.uk/ntfl-feasibility-report.pdf) (PDF) on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Siemens to supply London Underground deep tube fleet"](http://www.metro-report.com/news/news-by-region/europe/single-view/view/siemens-to-supply-london-underground-deep-tube-fleet.html). [Metro Report International](/source/Metro_Report_International). 15 June 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:14_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:14_12-1) ["Piccadilly Line: Plans for new 'walk-through' trains unveiled"](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-56273283). *BBC News*. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Harris, Simon (3 January 2018). ["Plan to sell part of Tube fleet branded 'quite mad'"](https://www.itv.com/news/london/2018-01-03/plan-to-sell-part-of-london-underground-fleet-branded-quite-mad). *ITV News*. Retrieved 6 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:3_14-0)** ["Siemens Mobility Limited to be awarded TfL contract to design and manufacture a new generation of Tube trains"](https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2018/june/siemens-mobility-limited-to-be-awarded-tfl-contract-to-design-and-manufacture-a-new-generation-of-tube-trains) (Press release). Transport for London. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Impacts of Reduced Funding for TfL"](https://board.tfl.gov.uk/documents/s16939/fc-20211124-item11a-Impacts-of-Reduced-Funding.pdf) (PDF). Transport for London. 21 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Collection - The Cab Yard"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180902214258/http://thecabyard.co.uk/collection/). The South Wales Loco Cab Preservation Group. Archived from [the original](http://thecabyard.co.uk/collection/) on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["London Underground 1972-tube stock driving motor car, number 3530, 1972"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064945/http://www.ltmcollection.org/vehicles/objects/object.html?IXinv=1999%2F22944). [London Transport Museum](/source/London_Transport_Museum). Archived from [the original](http://www.ltmcollection.org/vehicles/objects/object.html?IXinv=1999/22944) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2014.

## External links

- [Transport for London - Rolling Stock - 1972](http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/londonunderground/rollingstock/1622.aspx)

- [Tubeprune - 1972 Tube Stock](http://www.trainweb.org/tubeprune/72%20tube%20stock.htm)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [London Underground 1972 Stock](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:London_Underground_1972_Stock).

v t e London Underground Bakerloo line Stations Harrow & Wealdstone Kenton South Kenton North Wembley Wembley Central Stonebridge Park Harlesden Willesden Junction Kensal Green Queen's Park Kilburn Park Maida Vale Warwick Avenue Paddington Edgware Road Marylebone Baker Street Regent's Park Oxford Circus Piccadilly Circus Charing Cross Embankment Waterloo Lambeth North Elephant and Castle (100m) Non-revenue stations Kilburn High Road Rolling stock 1972 Stock Depots Stonebridge Park Proposed extension Bakerloo line extension to Lewisham History Former companies Baker Street & Waterloo Railway Underground Electric Railways Company of London Former stations now served by London Overground Bushey Carpenders Park Hatch End Headstone Lane Watford High Street Watford Junction Former stations now served by Jubilee line Canons Park Dollis Hill Finchley Road Kilburn Kingsbury tube station Neasden Queensbury Stanmore St John's Wood Swiss Cottage Wembley Park West Hampstead Willesden Green Former rolling stock 1906 Stock 1914 Stock Watford Joint Stock Standard Stock 1938 Stock 1949 Stock 1959 Stock Abandoned plans Extension to Camberwell Extension to Cricklewood Extension to Old Kent Rd London Underground Transport for London London transport portal

v t e London Underground Northern line Stations High Barnet branch High Barnet Totteridge & Whetstone Woodside Park West Finchley Mill Hill East Finchley Central East Finchley Highgate Archway Tufnell Park Kentish Town Camden Town Edgware branch Edgware Burnt Oak Colindale Hendon Central Brent Cross Golders Green Hampstead Belsize Park Chalk Farm Camden Town Charing Cross branch Camden Town Mornington Crescent Euston Warren Street Goodge Street Tottenham Court Road Leicester Square Charing Cross Embankment Waterloo Kennington Bank Branch Camden Town Euston King's Cross St Pancras Angel Old Street Moorgate Bank London Bridge Borough Elephant & Castle ( 100m) Kennington Morden branch Kennington Oval Stockwell Clapham North Clapham Common Clapham South Balham Tooting Bec Tooting Broadway Colliers Wood South Wimbledon Morden Battersea branch Kennington Nine Elms Battersea Power Station Rolling stock Current 1995 Stock Former 1906 Stock 1938 Stock 1949 Stock 1956 Stock 1959 Stock 1962 Stock 1972 Stock Standard Stock History Former companies City and South London Railway Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway Edgware, Highgate and London Railway Underground Electric Railways Company of London Former lines Northern City Line Former stations City Road Essex Road Finsbury Park Highbury & Islington Drayton Park King William Street South Kentish Town Abandoned plans Northern Heights plan Aldenham depot Alexandra Palace Brockley Hill Bushey Heath Cranley Gardens Crouch End Elstree South Mill Hill Muswell Hill North End Stroud Green Depots Golders Green Morden London Underground Night Tube Transport for London London transport portal

v t e London Underground Jubilee line Stations Stanmore Canons Park Queensbury Kingsbury Wembley Park Neasden Dollis Hill Willesden Green Kilburn West Hampstead Finchley Road Swiss Cottage St John's Wood Baker Street Bond Street Green Park Westminster Waterloo Southwark ( Waterloo East) London Bridge Bermondsey Canada Water Canary Wharf North Greenwich Canning Town West Ham Stratford Rolling stock 1996 Stock Depots Stratford Market Neasden History Jubilee Line Extension Jubilee Line Extension Roland Paoletti Jubilee line corruption trial Former lines Metropolitan line Bakerloo line Former stations Charing Cross Abandoned plans Phase 2 (1971) Aldwych Ludgate Circus Cannon Street Fenchurch Street Phase 3 (1971/72) Surrey Docks New Cross Gate New Cross Lewisham Phase 3 (1980) St Katharine Docks Wapping Surrey Docks North Millwall North Greenwich Custom House Silvertown Woolwich Arsenal Beckton Former rolling stock London Underground 1972 Stock 1983 Stock London Underground Night Tube Transport for London London transport portal

v t e London Underground rolling stock Current Deep tube 1972 1973 1992 1995 1996 2009 Sub-surface S7/S8 Future Deep tube 2024 Former Deep tube 1900/1903 1906 1914 1915 1920 Watford Joint Standard 1938 1949 1956 1959 1960 1962 1967 1983 Sub-surface District Railway A B C D E F G H K L Metropolitan Railway Electric multiple units GN&C S T Circle London Transport M/N O/CO/P/P1/CP Q/Q23/Q27/Q31/Q35/Q38 R38/R47/R49/R59 A60/A62 C69/C77 D78 Locomotives Battery-electric Diesel Electric London Transport locomotives Steam locomotives A B C D E F G H K District ex GWR Brill Tramway Tube-gauge steam locomotives Other stock Carriages Coaching stock Sleet locomotives Experimental Deep tube 1935 1986 Other Departmental Engineering Miscellaneous Numbering and classification

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