Great Western Coffee Shop

I saw my first of the new H&C Line 'S7' Stock in passenger service today, where they've been in revenue earning service since the beginning of last week.  Pictured below after arriving at Paddington's Platform 16, and the rear vehicle pictured using the new extended part of the platform to accommodate them.  LUL's ambition of getting a few in service before the Olympics has (just) been achieved after a relatively short test period - most of the faults with the new trains have been ironed out on the Metropolitan line over the last year or two with their virtually identical, but one carriage longer, 'S8' stock.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7598240648_473def6bff_z.jpg)

So, those of you who regularly change onto the H&C/Circle lines at Paddington should now look out for the new trains, which, for all you fact fans out there, claim the following benefits on the old 'C' Stock which have been the mainstay on the line since way back in 1969!

• 7 carriage trains replacing 6 carriage trains - platform extensions wherever possible and selective door operation where this wasn't possible.
• Each carriage is longer than the train it replaces, so the total train length is extended by around 20 metres.
• More standing room:  Over 1000 people can be standing in a S7 train at a squeeze.
• More seating room:  268 seats per train compared with 192 on the 'C' Stock.  An increase of almost 40%.
• Better security measures including CCTV and articulated bogies allowing you to walk through the length of the train.
• Air-Conditioning!
• Better acceleration and, hopefully, better reliability

I'd be interested to hear regular passengers views as and when they are more widely introduced.

Is this the first time they have had SDO on the Underground?

The Northern Line uses SDO at some stations I believe?  Not sure if there's any more?

There have been various odd stations over the years where a couple of doors at the back of the train haven't opened.
Somewhere on the Northern line Charing X branch rings a bell with me too.

I think the difference here on the S7 stock is that it varies automatically at different stations, and at some places the driver's end of the train is just beyond the platform end, so that all 7 coaches are still accessible, sort of (back 2/3 open)+(5 cars)+(front 2/3 open); if that makes sense.

Paul

The old Met stock used to keep rear doors closed at various stations twixt Baker Street & Moorgate

Is it all longtitudinal seating a la 378 if so that's to my mind is a disadvantage over the C stock.

S7 stock for the Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines is all longitudinal seating but the C stock currently used on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines is all longitudinal seating. The S8 stock in use on the Metropolitan line has a mix of longitudinal and transverse seating.