Runaway train causes havoc on the Tube after careering through six stations with no driver
By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 10:23 PM on 13th August 2010
Disaster was narrowly avoided on the Tube this morning when a runaway train careered four miles through six stations as other trains were cleared from its path.
The unmanned engineering train began to move southbound from Archway station on the Northern line just before 7am as thousands of commuters began to pack stations.
London Underground staff decided to allow the train to continue, diverting it on to the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line and diverted other trains on to the Bank branch.
The runaway eventually came to a halt at Warren Street station - having passed through Tufnell Park, Kentish Town, Camden Town, Mornington Crescent and Euston stations as bemused commuters looked on.
One early-morning passenger said: 'I was on the Tube ahead of the runaway train and we jumped seven stops.
'The driver told us that we had to move at the front of the carriage immediately as we had an emergency.'
The Rail Accident Investigation Bureau and LU have suspended the use of all engineering trains of this type.
A spokesman said the train had become defective at 5.25am today as it approached Archway.
Engineers began to move the train northbound by coupling it to an out-of-service Northern line train.
He added: 'However, for reasons that are now under investigation, at around 6.44am the engineering train became detached from the Northern line train and began to move southbound.
'Staff undertook a swift assessment of the incident and an operational decision was made to allow the train to continue, until it came to a stand at Warren Street on the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line, which it did at 6.57am.
'Throughout the incident, LU staff monitored the situation, including the position of passenger trains.
'LU staff moved to divert passenger trains to the City branch, and direct the engineering train to the Charing Cross branch where passenger trains had been cleared.
'Services on the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line were then suspended.'
The incident involved the suspension of the Northern line between Finchley Central and Archway and Camden Town to Kennington via Charing Cross.
LU director Richard Parry said: 'Safety is our top priority, and we have of course launched an immediate and thorough investigation into this incident to establish the cause.
'From the start of this incident, an immediate assessment was made and operational decisions taken to minimise the safety risk to our customers and staff.'
But the RMT Union was 'appalled and horrified' by the incident.
Assistant General Secretary Pat Sikorski said it 'could have very easily resulted in disaster'.
London commuter numbers are set to grow by 35 per cent by 2035, the document forecast.
Regional urban commuting to cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow is expected to see growth of more than 100 per cent, with growth on some routes of 115 per cent.
It was also forecast that the amount of freight moved by rail could double by 2030.
Entitled Planning Ahead the document was prepared by an industry steering group, led by Network Rail (NR), the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) and the Rail Freight Operators' Association.'The runaway train... represents a safety failure of the highest order.
'We understand that a collision with a passenger service train leaving Archway was only narrowly avoided.
'The overnight works were the responsibility of TfL subsidiary Tube Lines, managed by the private company Amey, and RMT are seeking urgent answers as to whether or not third party contractors were involved in this incident - particularly as the findings from Potters Bar ruled that third party contractors should not be involved in rail maintenance works.
'This horrific failure comes against a background of a systematic reduction in safety-critical jobs and safety procedures as a direct result of TfL’s financial cuts programme.
'In the light of this morning’s events it is essential that TfL call a halt to their cuts plans and bring an end to the dilution of Tube safety.'
Train passenger numbers could double in the next 25 years, a rail industry planning document predicted today.
The unmanned engineering train began to move southbound from Archway station on the Northern line just before 7am as thousands of commuters began to pack stations.
London Underground staff decided to allow the train to continue, diverting it on to the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line and diverted other trains on to the Bank branch.
The runaway eventually came to a halt at Warren Street station - having passed through Tufnell Park, Kentish Town, Camden Town, Mornington Crescent and Euston stations as bemused commuters looked on.
End of the line: The engineering train ran from Archway station southwards down to Warren Street, where it eventually came to a halt
Free run: An Underground engineering train was allowed to run free for four miles
'The driver told us that we had to move at the front of the carriage immediately as we had an emergency.'
The Rail Accident Investigation Bureau and LU have suspended the use of all engineering trains of this type.
A spokesman said the train had become defective at 5.25am today as it approached Archway.
Engineers began to move the train northbound by coupling it to an out-of-service Northern line train.
'Staff undertook a swift assessment of the incident and an operational decision was made to allow the train to continue, until it came to a stand at Warren Street on the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line, which it did at 6.57am.
'Throughout the incident, LU staff monitored the situation, including the position of passenger trains.
'LU staff moved to divert passenger trains to the City branch, and direct the engineering train to the Charing Cross branch where passenger trains had been cleared.
'The runaway train... represents a safety failure of the highest order. We understand that a collision with a passenger service train leaving Archway was only narrowly avoided'
The incident involved the suspension of the Northern line between Finchley Central and Archway and Camden Town to Kennington via Charing Cross.
LU director Richard Parry said: 'Safety is our top priority, and we have of course launched an immediate and thorough investigation into this incident to establish the cause.
'From the start of this incident, an immediate assessment was made and operational decisions taken to minimise the safety risk to our customers and staff.'
But the RMT Union was 'appalled and horrified' by the incident.
Assistant General Secretary Pat Sikorski said it 'could have very easily resulted in disaster'.
35% RISE IN COMMUTERS
London commuter numbers are set to grow by 35 per cent by 2035, the document forecast.
Regional urban commuting to cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow is expected to see growth of more than 100 per cent, with growth on some routes of 115 per cent.
It was also forecast that the amount of freight moved by rail could double by 2030.
Entitled Planning Ahead the document was prepared by an industry steering group, led by Network Rail (NR), the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) and the Rail Freight Operators' Association.
'We understand that a collision with a passenger service train leaving Archway was only narrowly avoided.
'The overnight works were the responsibility of TfL subsidiary Tube Lines, managed by the private company Amey, and RMT are seeking urgent answers as to whether or not third party contractors were involved in this incident - particularly as the findings from Potters Bar ruled that third party contractors should not be involved in rail maintenance works.
'This horrific failure comes against a background of a systematic reduction in safety-critical jobs and safety procedures as a direct result of TfL’s financial cuts programme.
'In the light of this morning’s events it is essential that TfL call a halt to their cuts plans and bring an end to the dilution of Tube safety.'
Train passenger numbers could double in the next 25 years, a rail industry planning document predicted today.
Find this story at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1302795/Runaway-Tube-train-causes-havoc-careering-6-stations.html
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