Investigation launched after runaway Tube train hurtles down Northern Line

Friday August 13, 2010

By JOSIE HINTON

A RUNAWAY train hurtled through six Camden tube stations without a driver this morning (Friday) causing major disruption on the Northern Line.

London Underground (LU) has launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred when a defective train that was being towed broke away at around 6.45am and travelled four miles south from Archway. Trains were moved from the path of the driver-less tube as it travelled southwards before coming to a stop at Warren Street at around 7am.
The Charring Cross branch was suspended for most of the morning causing chaos in busy Northern Line stations including Camden Town.

The RMT has described the incident as a “safety failure of the highest order.” RMT assistant general secretary Pat Sikorski said: “We are appalled and horrified at the major incident that occurred this morning during passenger traffic hours and which could have very easily resulted in disaster. We understand that a collision with a passenger service train leaving Archway was only narrowly avoided.”

LU said the train had been involved in maintenance work when it became defective as it approached Archway tube station at around 5.25am. Engineers had begun to move the defective train northbound by coupling it to an out of service Northern line train when it became detached and travelled for 13 minutes without a driver.

LU Director Richard Parry said: “Safety is London Underground's top priority, and we have of course launched an immediate and thorough investigation into this incident to establish the cause. Once that investigation is complete, we will publish the report, making its conclusions and recommendations clear. In the meantime we have prohibited the use of this design of engineering train on the Underground.”