London Underground
First new deep level tube stock since 1997; entered service 2009–2011.
The London Underground is a rapid transit system that serves Greater London and extends into parts of Buckinghamshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire. It is operated as part of the transport network managed by Transport for London. The system originated with the Metropolitan Railway, which opened in January 1863 as the world’s first underground passenger railway. Despite poor air quality from coke and coal-burning steam locomotives, the line carried millions of passengers in its first year. This pioneering line now forms sections of the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines. The first deep-level line to use electric traction trains was the City & South London Railway, which opened in 1890 and is now part of the Northern line. The network has since expanded to eleven lines with hundreds of kilometres of track, though it does not cover most southern parts of Greater London, with only thirty-three stations south of the River Thames. The system’s 272 stations handle up to five million passenger journeys daily and over a billion journeys annually. Early tunnels were built just below ground using the cut-and-cover method; later, deeper circular tunnels gave rise to the nickname “the Tube,” though only 45% of the system is actually underground, with much of the outer network running on the surface. Originally owned by several private companies, the early tube lines were brought together under the Underground brand in the early twentieth century and merged with sub-surface lines and bus services in 1933 to form London Transport under the London Passenger Transport Board. Today, London Underground Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London. A large portion of operational expenditure is covered by passenger fares. The Travelcard ticket was introduced in 1983, followed by the Oyster contactless ticketing system in 2003, and contactless bank card payments in 2014. The London Passenger Transport Board commissioned many modernist station buildings, posters, and public artworks. The schematic Tube map, designed by Harry Beck in 1931, was voted a national design icon and now includes other transport systems such as the DLR, London Overground, Thameslink, the Elizabeth line, and Tramlink. Other iconic branding includes the roundel and the Johnston typeface, created in 1916.
- number_of_lines
- 11
- daily_passenger_journeys
- up to 5 million
- percentage_underground
- 45
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The Victoria line is the most intensively used line on the Underground, in terms of the average number of journeys per kilometre. In the early 2000s, reliability was decreasing due to the age of the 1960s-era Automatic Train Operation (ATO) system and the 1967 Stock. Following the London Underground Public Private Partnership in 2003, the Metronet consortium began a substantial upgrade. Bombardier Transportation would design, build and maintain the new rolling stock. In the 1990s, London Underground designed an open gangway 'Space Train' with walk through carriages, but due to technical and financial risk, Metronet ordered conventional trains from Bombardier in 2003, originally planned to enter service in 2006 at a cost of £750 million. The design was finalised in September 2004. Manufacture of two pre-production trains began in early 2005. From 21 July to 4 August 2006, a mock-up was on show at Euston Square Gardens. The first pre-production train was not delivered to London until May 2007. Metronet collapsed in July 2007; Transport for London took ownership in May 2008. The second pre-production train entered service on 21 July 2009, leaving Northumberland Park depot at 23:00 and forming the 23:55 service between Seven Sisters and Brixton. Main production commenced at the end of 2009. One train entered passenger service every two weeks from February 2010. By mid-2011, sufficient trains were in service to allow withdrawal of the 1967 Stock, the last of which ran on 30 June 2011. By July 2011, the full fleet was in service. During introduction, teething issues caused disruption: on 21 July 2010, a train broke down at Pimlico, ambulances rescued almost 3,000 trapped passengers; on 26 July 2010, another broke down at Oxford Circus, suspending all Victoria line services. Transport for London cited software failures and over-sensitive door sensors. By the mid 2010s, the trains and signalling system displayed exceptional reliability, with the 2009 Stock travelling around six times further between failures than the 1967 Stock. Signalling and track upgrades allowed frequency to increase to 36 trains per hour, the most frequent in the UK and one of the most frequent in Europe.
Reader's Guide
The 2009 Stock was built as part of the Victoria line upgrade in conjunction with new signalling, designed to decrease journey times, improve reliability, and increase passenger capacity. Compared to the 1967 Stock, the train has improved acceleration and the same top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). Braking performance is improved through regenerative brakes, which save energy. Originally intended to have all-motored axles, it was later decided that 75% of motored axles would be sufficient, saving weight and reducing project costs by around £10 million, about 3.5% of the overall cost. The new train allows a decrease in journey times between stations by 8% and overall journey times by 16%. At peak times, 43 trains should be in service, an increase of six over the 1967 Stock. The trains are 40 mm (1.57 in) wider than the 1967 Stock to take advantage of the Victoria line's slightly larger loading gauge, preventing them from leaving the Victoria line except by road. They were the longest deep-level tube trains on the system when introduced, at 133.275 m (437 ft 3 in), 3 m (9 ft 10 in) longer than the 1967 Stock. Built using Bombardier's FICAS technology, they have a thinner bodyshell and more internal space, with a 19% increase in capacity over the 1967 Stock, seating 252 and with standing space for an estimated 1,196 passengers. Electrically powered doors are wider for easier boarding and alighting. They are the first London Underground trains designed since the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations, with multi-purpose areas with tip-up seats and space for wheelchairs and pushchairs, offset centre door poles for wheelchair access, CCTV cameras, and dot-matrix displays. The train maintains a fixed height above the rail regardless of loading or wheel wear. Unlike most other London Underground trains, the Combined Traction/Brake Controller is on the right-hand side of the cab, as most Victoria line platforms are on the right. The cab has an external side door for easier driver changes, and is fitted with dedicated air-conditioning. Each train is made up of two 4-car units of the configuration Driving Motor–Trailer–Non Driving Motor–Uncoupling (Shunting) Non Driving Motor, coupled back-to-back with mechanical-only Scharfenberg couplers. The trains are maintained at Northumberland Park Depot, with Bombardier staff on site for warranty parts replacement.
Did You Know?
- The 2009 Stock is the first new deep level tube stock on the Underground network since the 1996 Stock entered service on the Jubilee line in 1997.
- The trains are 40 mm (1.57 in) wider than the 1967 Stock, preventing them from leaving the Victoria line except by road.
- During the morning rush hour on 21 July 2010, a train broke down at Pimlico, and ambulances had to rescue almost 3,000 trapped passengers.
- By the mid 2010s, the 2009 Stock travelled around six times further between failures than the 1967 Stock.
- The trains have a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) and use regenerative brakes to save energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the London Underground 2009 Stock?
The 2009 Stock is a fleet of 47 eight-car trains purpose-built for the Victoria line, manufactured by Bombardier under its Movia platform at the Derby Litchurch Lane Works in England.
When did the 2009 Stock begin operating?
The trains entered service in phases from July 2009 through June 2011, progressively taking over from the older 1967 Tube Stock on the Victoria line.
Why is the 2009 Stock considered a milestone for the network?
It marked the first introduction of new deep-level tube rolling stock since the 1996 Stock debuted on the Jubilee line in 1997, and as of 2026 it still holds the title of the newest deep-level tube stock in operation.
Which line does the 2009 Stock serve and what did it replace?
All 47 trains are dedicated to the Victoria line, where they took over from the 1967 Tube Stock that had been in daily use for decades.
How does the 2009 Stock fit into the wider London Underground system?
The London Underground spans 11 lines and handles up to five million passenger journeys per day, with roughly 45 percent of its route running below street level; the 2009 Stock is the most recent deep-level tube fleet addition within that network.
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