London’s Asset Inspection Train cars head to scrapyard
The last two cars of the London Underground Asset Inspection Train (AIT) were taken away from Northfields depot on June 26 to be scrapped. Driving motor car No. 3313 (1972 stock) and car No. 3179 (1967 stock) were transported by low-loader to London Kent Metals in Sittingbourne. Funding to create the six-car AIT was approved in July 2006 with the aim of replacing a track recording vehicle (made up of spare 1960 and 1973 stock), which had entered departmental service in 1987. A stored four-car 1972 stock unit was rebuilt at Doncaster in 2007 to create the train and two withdrawn Victoria line cars were added in 2013, having been converted by Arlington Fleet Services in Eastleigh.
The train was fitted with thermal cameras and digital technology to collect data on track condition, but following a number of faults and supplier issues, the project was cancelled in 2018.