01.03.13
Out-of-control train ploughed through seven Tube stations
Three companies have been fined a total of £300,000 for safety breaches that led to a runaway engineering train in 2010. The ORR has brought a prosecution against London Underground, Tube Lines and Schweerbau for their failure to effectively co-ordinate, plan and work together in transporting the damaged train.
On Friday 13 August 2010, a broken-down engineering train was being towed uphill towards Highgate tube station when a connection failed and the train broke free. The train ran downhill out of control, southbound on the London Underground Northern line for 16 minutes and over four miles.
The train reached speeds of up to 30mph and passed through seven populated stations before it eventually came to an unaided stop caused by an uphill incline on the approach to Warren Street station.
The companies have also been ordered to pay costs of £44,074.
Ian Prosser, ORR’s director of safety, said: “London Underground, Tube Lines and Schweerbau, through inadequate management and planning, failed to ensure the safe recovery of an engineering train.
“This is clearly unacceptable, and led to a potentially catastrophic incident on the Northern Line where the train careered out of control for over four miles. It was only the professionalism of control room staff taking decisive action which prevented a collision between trains, and averted a much more serious outcome.
“The regulator will continue to closely monitor the actions of all parties involved, and will not hesitate to step in should further safety failings be found.”
Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said: “This shocking incident, which could very easily have resulted in a major tragedy and loss of life as the runaway grinder hurtled after a passenger train, should continue to serve as a wake-up call to London Underground and Boris Johnson nearly two and half years on.
“The reports of what happened on that day will still send a shiver down the spine of tube users and no one should underestimate the role played by a fast-acting tube driver in saving lives as the grinder chased behind the train. Against that background the dangerous talk of driverless operation should stop right now.”
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