Central/Waterloo & City Line 1992 Stock

Built: 1991-1994
Manufacturer: British Rail Engineering Limited
Entered Service: 1993 – 1995
Refurbished: Central: 2011-2012 / Waterloo & City: 2006
Number in Service:  90 (Central: 85 / Waterloo & City: 5)
Number of Carriages per Train: Central: 8 / Waterloo & City: 4
Seats per Train: Central: 272 Waterloo & City: 136
Passenger Capacity: Central: 1047 Waterloo & City: 406 (approx.)

Train Formation:  Driving Motor – Non-Driving Motor (Central x 4 / Waterloo & City x2)

Train Length: Central: 434 feet / Waterloo & City: 216 feet 4 ins
Train Width: 8ft 6ins
Train Height: 9ft 4ins
Train Weight: Central: 170 tonnes / Waterloo & City: 86 tonnes

Central/Waterloo & City Line 1992 Stock History

Although the Central/Waterloo & City Line 1992 Stock units are virtually identical, the histories of the units are detailed separately below.

Following extensive testing of the three prototype 1986 stock units by London Underground, a design was chosen. British Rail Engineering Limited (sub-contracted to ABB) commenced construction of the 1992 stock at their Derby Litchurch Lane works in 1991.

With the commencement of testing of the new units, several technical issues were found and the units returned to Derby to be rectified. Following this process, the first units entered revenue service in April 1993, gradually replacing the existing 1962 stock, with completion in May 1995.

Following the initial Central Line order, British Rail ordered ten two-car units for use on the Waterloo & City Line. These were initially designated as Class 482, but this was changed to the London Underground class codes following the operational transfer of the line on 1 April 1994. The units are virtually identical to those operated on the Central Line, with the main difference being the use of trip-cocks rather than Automatic Train Protection.

25 January 2003 saw the derailment of a 1992 stock train on the westbound platform of Chancery Lane Station, injuring 32 of the approximately 500 people on board at the time. The cause of the accident was determined to be the detachment of a motor bogie under the fifth car, caused by a gearbox failure.

As a result of the incident, the entire Central Line fleet was withdrawn from service that afternoon, with both the Central and Waterloo & City Lines being closed at the time. This closure enabled all of the stock to be modified with new, safer equipment and lasted until 14 March 2003, when both lines were re-opened in stages.

In 2006, the Waterloo & City Line was closed for several months to allow for track and signalling upgrade works. The rolling stock was removed by crane from the line’s Waterloo depot and transported to Wabtec Rail in Doncaster for refurbishment. This programme saw the units repainted from their Network Southeast livery to the standard London Underground Corporate livery with the interior handrails and seat moquette replaced, alongside the installation of CCTV cameras.

Beginning in 2011, the Central Line stock began a process of refurbishment with a new seat moquette, brighter lighting and new window frames being installed. This was coupled with a complete refresh of the driving cabs incorporating a simpler design and repairing several water ingress points. This not only cleaned up the unit’s appearance, but it also helped save costs on any future work.

A further major refurbishment of the units has been planned by Transport for London. These works will include a complete overhaul of the units with the addition of wheelchair spaces, passenger information screens and train-wide CCTV. The exterior of the units will receive a complete repaint and all of the traction motors will be replaced. This programme was due to commence in the summer of 2020, taking 40 days per unit, but these works have been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.