On Thursday, 5 April 2018 11:59:24 UTC+1, Recliner wrote:
On 4 Apr 2018 21:43:23 GMT, Marland
wrote:

Recliner wrote:
Marland wrote:
Recliner wrote:
I came across this strange 2-car ex-Victoria Line unit in the siding
at Acton Town today:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/recliner/albums/72157665392527907

I see it's been discussed on District Dave's forum:
http://districtdavesforum.co.uk/thre...emaining-units

Despite the Victoria Line sign in one cab window, it seems they're
actually 72TS, and rather smart. From the discussion, it seems that
these surviving cars don't currently have a use.


Downloaded my online edition of the Railway Magazine last night.
In a very similar photo the unit is described as a tunnel cleaning train
formed of 67and 72 stock.

The District Dave thread says that the tunnel cleaning train has been
cancelled, so the cars are currently without a use.


The RM photos says it was taken on March the 15th so it does seem a long
time for such an asset not too move, as District Dave is largely populated
by LU people I would think they would have the more accurate info.

I think this is another example of TfL's acute budget squeeze.
Presumably the tunnel cleaning train wasn't needed urgently, so it's
been cancelled, or at least deferred. Similarly, the extra Northern
and Jubilee Line trains have been cancelled.

TfL has been caught in a tight squeeze: ridership is unexpectedly
down, and combined with the fares freeze on all TfL services, means
that revenues are falling. The bus hopper fares can't have helped.

At the same time last-minute Crossrail technical problems have
increased the costs of completing it, before any new revenues come in.
And government subsidies for TfL's operations are coming to any end.
So TfL simultaneously has higher costs, lower revenues, and reduced
subsidies.

Things might start betting better once the Elizabeth line opens at the
end of the year (or will the opening be deferred?).

I don't think it's any of those issues actually. As you will know the old Tunnel Cleaning Train was very unreliable and caught fire. LU put alternative measures in place to keep tunnel dirt and dust under control. However the issues about dust levels and potential harm to passengers have never gone away. A decision was therefore taken years ago to create a new tunnel cleaning train. This involved the use of old Vic Line cars. I believe, but am happy to be corrected, that the eventual train (years late btw) was severely underpowered and not able to work properly. Now how on earth the programme took so long to create an ineffective train is anyone's guess. I believe a decision was taken not to put any further money into the Tunnel Cleaning Train but more on the basis of it possibly being an "open ended" financial hole rather than there being a fixed budget to achieve a defined end. This was not so much due to the worsening financial situation TfL faces now but a simple acceptance that it was best to stop the project.

Given LU's tunnel sizes there is not really the prospect of buying an "off the peg" new tunnel cleaning train from an established manufacturer. Clearly the prospects of such a purchase, even if possible, are lower than zero given the lack of money. However I expect the underlying issues have not gone away and politicians and others will keep asking questions about air quality and dust levels.

--
Paul C
via Google