Tube blunders reveal service not on the right tracks
It has been exposed in a shock discovery that tube drivers went through red lights 54 times in four weeks.
The findings have led to fears of possible work accidents within the service.
In the month ending 30th January, there were 128 other incidents on the network, serious enough to spark further investigation and an official report. This brings the total of professional negligence behaviour to 182.
In addition to the dangerous red light mistakes, errors also led to power failures, staff shortages, delays and faulty signals.
Confidential documents witnessed show there were 187 hours and 35 minutes of recorded disruption on the Tube in the four weeks but the real total is thought to be much higher.
It is not known whether the figure of 182 incidents shows an increase or decrease from previous months. Included in the total are the 54 times trains passed red lights.
The string of misfortunes extends to a train hitting a ladder which had been left suspended above the track by sub-contractors. In another, a train overshot the platform because of too much grease on the lines.
One separate incident concerning London Bridge, on the Northern line during the rush hour, saw a train exceed the platform and the red light by two carriage lengths. This was due to a track mounted grease dispenser spurting out too much grease.
Passengers on the Northern line at Kennington were taken off into sidings. This was because the carriages had not been inspected correctly to check there was nobody still on board when the train reached the end of its journey.
A “wrong signal” sent 100 passengers on the Jubilee line to Neasden train depot instead of Neasden station.
There were massive delays on the Circle line last month when a train struck an object at Aldgate. London Underground said at the time it had hit some scaffolding left by contractors.
What actually happened was that sub-contractors had, without authority, attached a ladder to the underside of girders above the track. The driver “reported a loud bang as train left Aldgate.” The outcome was six hours of delays.
A Victoria line train was damaged at Northumberland Park depot when it “collided with closed shutter doors of the train shed”. The train was empty save for the driver, who was not hurt.
There were 20 signal failures which resulted in delays of more than 18 hours. Twelve power failures caused delays of more than 16 hours.
Getting back on track
London Underground stated that “safety is paramount” and the network has a system which brakes trains automatically if a signal is passed at red.
However, some of the delays are caused by situations out of the Tube's control, such as flooding, suicides and a power failure from national grid supplies.
The group said that to improve the situation and to curb and possible compensation claims, millions is being invested into the system.
A London Underground spokesman commented: “Safety is our top priority and London Underground has worked hard to successfully reduce signals passed at danger (SPADs) in recent years.
“Tube engineering protects against accidents which could result from a train passing a red signal. In such an instance, the automatic brake system will operate, stopping the train. SPADs as a result of driver error remain on the decrease, but cold and wet weather at this time of year causes an increase in signal malfunctions which also cause trains to stop, and these also register as a SPAD.”
He added: “We have seen a number of incidents in which stations have flooded from a water mains, and we work closely with Thames Water o ensure these have as little impact as possible on passenger service. Similarly, the winter months bring some increase in station power loss when the electricity network is under great demand, and we continue to work with power providers to make sure supply to stations is given the correct priority.”
Updated on 15/02/2010