Why do Jubilee Line trains make that noise?

You know the one.

[dimensional_fusion]

That noise is one of the most satisfying things on the underground honestly

[HighLatencyEmu]

I've loved that sound since I was a kid
It sounds so futuristic in a way, like something mechanical is spooling up

[achaoticbee]

This noise is genuinely half of why the Jubilee line is my favourite on the underground. I specifically love the noise as it comes into the station, the slowing down and then braking is just so nice.

[ThiemenDoppenberg]

I love this noise. It sounds like something is really happening under the hood, as if it is optimized to gradually increasing its current to create momentum without losing friction

[Larwood.]

They're *getting louder*? This is the best news I have heard all week, how many years have these things got left in them, 20? I look forward to them reaching their full glory.

[bb-]

You asked "Do you like the noise?"
The noise is absolutely wonderful, love getting these trains

[Sasha-finz]

As someone who's lived on and travelled on the Jubilee line my entire life (30 years), and travelled on the tube a LOT, I can't believe I never realised it's the only line that makes that sound until now!! I read the video title and had NO idea what it was talking about until I heard it and felt immediate familiarity and comfort :')

[andrewmartin]

Beautiful, I've heard that noise thousands of times but never paid attention and never noticed it was only the Jubilee Line. The question that I have asked myself is why Westminster looks like it's built to be readily converted into an impenetrable fallout shelter/supervillain lair/cabinet war room.

[pixoontube]

Finally, Jago answeres the question that us Tube nerds have always asked ourselves.

[deltaultra]

Hello from Toronto!

The 1995 T-1 trains we have here make that exact noise, I've always loved the sound they make but never been able to learn why they make it. I had always assumed it was the gears changing. It's nice to finally have an answer :)

[tapio_m]

Fun fact: Variable-frequency drive was developed in the 70s by a Finnish company Strömberg Oy and it's engineer Martti Harmoinen, and it was first seen on the Helsinki underground, opened in the 1980s. The M100 series was the first underground train to use this type of propulsion.

[PhilipStorry]

I honestly hadn't noticed it, because I grew up in South East London and have heard Networkers for years. It's just how a train sounds to me.
On a warm summer's day I can hear the station in the distance. The beeping of the doors closing warning, the slam of the doors, then the sound of the train moving off. Isn't it odd to think that for some people that will one day be as nostalgic for them as the slow puff-puff-puff of a steam train moving off?

[robinpayne]

Just to point out, the Networkers you showed at 3:25 are some of the examples that had their original GTO Thyristors replaced by Hitachi IGBT technology that doesn't make "the noise". The visual clue is the re-tractioned units had the skirting on the under frames of the re-tractioned power cars removed to fit the new kit in. Some of the units retain their GTO thyristors and retain the underbody skirts, and still make "the noise".

[hohteri]

Helsinki metro M100 stock (the oldest) has similar sound. They were built between 1977-1984 and according to Wikipedia were the first train in the world to use VVVF propulsion inverters, developed and manufactured by Strömberg.

[dariadarling]

Love how international this turns out to be, judging by the comments ❤ Here in the Netherlands we have a specific build of trains, also from the late nineties, that makes a similar sound. Always used to catch those when I was in uni, brings back memories ❤

[owenllewellyn]

You should hear the the OBB Taurus locomotives as they pull off from standing- the thyristor switching plays almost an ascending Dorian mode scale beautifully.

[timelordgeek]

The ‘noise’ is what makes it iconic and it won’t be the same when they’re replaced which will hopefully be a long while yet!

[marijo]

Back in 1997 I regularly took my daughter to school catching the Jubilee line from Green Park to St John's Wood. I well remember the morning when the new trains were introduced. We were expecting the usual trundling, grating sound which always seemed to threaten the train breaking down, and stared at each other open-mouthed when we heard the new 'sci-fi' noise. However I think we were even more impressed by the cleanliness of the carriages and the plushness of the new upholstery. It's hard to convey just how decrepit the old Jubilee line trains were - many of the seats had tears covered up with duct tape, and there was loads of graffiti on the walls.

[edwardholmes]

I'm so pleased that you uploaded this video! I often travel on London Northwestern trains between Crewe and Birmingham or London and have noticed they make a similar noise. The 'gear shift' sound is quite distinctive and when I tried to search online I couldn't find any information... I obviously wasn't searching for the right thing. It's always fun to 'geek out' over these things! 🤣

[maninacave]

Very nice video and well explained!

As an electronics bod myself, one minor correction is that IGBT stands for Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (not transmitter)