Staff shortages cause Angel and Tufnell Park Tube closures
Busy stations forced to turn passengers away due to illness as union attacks plan to axe jobs
Published: 15 October, 2010
EXCLUSIVE by TERRY MESSENGER
TUBE bosses have admitted they are unable to run a full service on present staffing levels – after the closure of two stops in Islington – even though they are planning to shed 1,600 jobs.
Transport for London (TfL) officials yesterday (Thursday) revealed that Angel and Tufnell Park were shut because key staff fell sick and there were no colleagues available to provide cover.
The temporary closures caused massive disruption, particularly at Angel, which is one of London’s busiest stations. Their surprise admission was seized upon by rail union leader Bob Crow as evidence that the planned job cuts will cause a serious deterioration in the service for passengers.
The RMT general secretary said: “This is now happening on a frequent basis and obviously the frequency of this will increase as more staff posts are deleted.”
A spokeswoman for TfL, which runs London Underground, said yesterday: “Tufnell Park Tube station on the Northern line was closed from 2.40pm on Saturday, October 9 for just over two hours after the station supervisor became unwell. There were no other staff immediately available to cover. The station reopened at 4.55pm.
“Angel Tube station closed on Friday, October 1 for 20 minutes due the station supervisor being absent through short notice sickness. Once staff cover was obtained the station reopened at 3.20pm.”
TfL plans to axe nearly 800 ticket office jobs including 150 management and administrative posts. And a further 800 “back office” jobs are set for the chop.
The RMT and white collar rail union TSSA staged one-day strikes earlier this month and last month in protest at the job cuts throwing the capital into travel chaos.
Tfl argue that station staff can be reduced because of increasing mechanisation under the Oyster Card scheme.
Explaining the job loss programme, Richard Parry, London Underground Director of Strategy, said: “Given the economic climate and the huge fall in the number of people using ticket offices, we need to change and make sure we have the most efficient organisation possible to deliver value for our customers and taxpayers whilst maintaining our firm commitment to safety and customer service.”
Demanding to know how many stations have shut down due to staff shortages, Mr Crow said: “These station closures show that the job losses are cash-led and not operational.”