London Underground coaching stock vehicles were used as standard locomotive-hauled coaching stock. Mark 1 BSK 35011 and Mark 2 3152, prior to purchase by London Underground, were used as brake force runners, and numbered 977588 and 977547 respectively. London Underground coaching stock In 1989, the first 'Steam on the Met' event took place, and London Underground, hired British Rail coaching stock for the excursions. It was found that it was actually cheaper to buy the coaches instead of hiring them. Thus, London Underground has acquired numerous former British Rail coaching stock for these special excursion trains on the Metropolitan line, usually hauled by either
London Underground Electronic ticketing in the form of the contactless Oyster card was introduced in 2003. London Underground services on the East London line ceased in 2007 so that it could be extended and converted to London Overground operation, and in December 2009 the Circle line changed from serving a closed loop around the centre of London to a spiral also serving Hammersmith. Since September 2014, passengers have been able to use contactless cards on the Tube. Their use has grown very quickly and now over a million contactless transactions are made on the Underground every day. The Underground serves 270 stations.