A rail enthusiast has ranked all types of London Underground Tube trains from worst to best. Some are more than 50 years old, while the newest ones have only been running for a few years
Travelling on the London Underground can be something of a lottery. Depending on your line and destination, you might find yourself aboard a sparkling new train complete with air conditioning and comfortable seating, or you could be stuck in what feels like a rickety metal box with concerning noises and questionable odours.
A railway fan has compiled a definitive ranking of every train type operating across the network, from absolute worst to top tier. Tom Lamon, who bills himself as “just some guy who likes trains”, shared his assessment in a recent TikTok video. Rock bottom in the rankings is the stock on the Piccadilly line, which has been trundling along since 1973. “They’re loud and ageing,” Tom says.
“Plus they’re the second-oldest trains on the network, and nobody likes them. However, they are soon being replaced by the brand new 2024 stock, which should be a massive improvement.”
Claiming seventh spot is the 1972 stock on the Bakerloo line – which Tom notes are not merely the oldest trains on the Underground, but across the entire UK. “They’re littered with graffiti everywhere, the lighting is super dim, and the trains always have a bumpy ride,” he explains.
“That said, these trains do have one redeeming feature: the seating is remarkably comfortable, and they offer transverse seating, allowing passengers to sit facing forward.” Transverse seating refers to seats arranged in horizontal rows, facing either forward or backwards in relation to the direction of travel, reports MyLondon.
This contrasts with longitudinal seating, where seats line the carriage walls, a layout typically seen in most Tube carriages. According to London TravelWatch, these trains are unlikely to be replaced until the 2030s.
Taking the sixth spot on Tom’s list are the Northern line trains, hailing from 1995. “There is really nothing special about them at all,” he says. “The seats are hard, they get really hot, and there’s no air conditioning at all.”
In fifth place, Tom identifies “the noisy 1992 stock”, servicing the Central and Waterloo and City lines. “Similarly here there’s nothing special at all,” he comments. “However, there is something that puts them higher up on the list – the Central line trains are being refurbished to have new and improved interiors with nicer seats, more accessible areas and a general new and clean atmosphere.”
Securing fourth place is the 1996 stock on the Jubilee line. Tom says: “They’re more modern, less warm, and overall nicer trains than anything lower on the list than them. Also, they have the capability to work with platform edge doors, which they do at many of the newer stations on the Jubilee line.”
Claiming the bronze medal, Tom placed the 2009 Victoria line stock in third position. “They’re definitely the best of all the deep level tube lines,” he notes. “They have pretty good seating, aren’t too loud, and accelerate very rapidly, which, combined with the updated digital signalling, allows them to run extremely fast and frequently.”
Narrowly missing out on first place is the S7 stock, which operates on the Circle, Hammersmith and City, and District lines, which entered service in 2012. According to Tom: “The air conditioning is lovely and they’re overall great trains. Additionally, they have super fast acceleration, walk-through carriages, high ceilings, and loads of space, which firmly gives them second place.”
Taking the crown is the S8 stock, which has served the Metropolitan line since 2010. Tom explains: “They’re a better version of the S7 stock. They have transverse and longitudinal seating, and are a car longer than the S7 stock so that they can accommodate an even higher number of passengers. Furthermore, they have four wheelchair bays for improved accessibility and they feel super spacious and open, more like a mainline train than something on the London Underground.”
One viewer questioned why Tom hadn’t featured the Elizabeth line, which launched in 2022 as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Tom made clear this is because the Elizabeth line isn’t part of the Underground network, but instead “it’s own thing”.
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