Dear Transport for London, I am writing to you to request the following information: 1) How often has the 1972 Stock train stored on the Aldwych branch of the Piccadilly Line been driven over the last year, and if possible what was the route or start/end destination of these movements? 2) Should the proposed Holborn Station capacity upgrade go ahead (thus sealing off the Aldwych branch), are there plans for the train stored on the branch to be preserved by the London Transport Museum, and if so when? 3) Have there been any plans/discussions about a potential rail tour (either with current or heritage stock) along the Piccadilly Line to Aldwych station?

---

TfL Ref 0549-2021

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 2 July 2020 asking for information about the 1972 Stock train stored on the Aldwych branch of the Piccadilly Line.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:

1) How often has the 1972 Stock train stored on the Aldwych branch of the Piccadilly Line been driven over the last year, and if possible what was the route or start/end destination of these movements?

2) Should the proposed Holborn Station capacity upgrade go ahead (thus sealing off the Aldwych branch), are there plans for the train stored on the branch to be preserved by the London Transport Museum, and if so when?

3) Have there been any plans/discussions about a potential rail tour (either with current or heritage stock) along the Piccadilly Line to Aldwych station?

Our replies are as follows:

1).  The 1972 stock train is driven once or twice every three months between Holborn and Aldwych. Once a year it goes to Cockfosters for maintenance   However it is not licensed to carry passengers.

2).  If the plans for the expansion of Holborn go ahead, the 4 car unit will be removed from the branch.  It is not proposed to preserve the set within the TfL Collection managed by the Museum as there is already a vehicle of the type which is identical to the 1972 Tube stock in the Collection.

3).  There is an embryo plan to run the 1938 Tube on the branch as part of LTM’s Hidden London programme while the 1972 is moved away for maintenance.  Because of evacuation issues at Aldwych, only a maximum of 25 passengers can be carried on the train.  This also relies on track and signalling safety arrangements, a full risk assessment and commercial agreement by TfL Legal and LU Safety Operations and Emergency Planning to run the train.

Please note the Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the Coronavirus. It is essential for London, and in particular for all critical workers, that we continue to provide a safe transport network that enables them to make the journeys they need to.

In current circumstances, we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present.

Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

Back to top

---