It has always been my understanding 1972 stock remained so long in the
persistent rumours frame because LU had a surplus of these, even after
several were transferred to the Vic line, that were in store,
reluctant to part with them, so were the obvious target of rumour and
speculation.

Fleet replacement of 1972 and 1973 stock looks like receding into the
distance - Picc line new stock is rumoured almost certainly to get put
back along with resignalling to at least 2020 if not further, and one
would suggest Picc is higher priority than Bakerloo so the later is
not likely to leapfrog by default. 1967 stock has been so battered
with intensive ATO running of ~45 years by the time it could be
released in fleet quantity one could speculate it might not be in a
fit state for anything.

I've said it before I'll say it again.

The true IOW solution is new stock. Not new heavy weight trains or new
tube stock, but some kind of light rail / heavy tram device. If this
is affordable for Watford St.Albans it is affordable for IOW ((+)).

Cue howls of derision from this forum. But we must look outside past
practice. Old tube trains might have worked. Don't forget by 2020 all
the disabled access regs are in place. Old tube stock won't meet those
and will be exceedingly hard to make comply. So not only might there
not be any tube stock availabale in less than 10 12 or even 15 years,
it might be useless anyway.



((+)) And Lymington while we are at it.

--
Nick