Tube passengers led to safety at Finsbury Park after train failure

Published: 22 October, 2010
by TERRY MESSENGER

HUNDREDS of passengers were trapped for two hours in a Tube tunnel just outside Finsbury Park as a packed train broke down – throwing services into chaos.

When repeated repair attempts failed, distressed commuters were led along the track to the station platform 300 metres away.

Victoria and Piccadilly line services from Finsbury Park were suspended as chaos gripped the busy interchange for three hours on Tuesday morning.

Student Ardita Gaxherri, 19, a passenger on the train, said: “We kept hearing announcements about how they were trying to fix the train until eventually they gave up and we were told to get out. It wasn’t very pleasant but most people stayed calm.”

Art gallery worker John Skelly, 31, said the 80 people in his carriage were led out of the front of the train and down a stepladder onto the line.   

The Victoria line southbound train broke down at 9.20am and three stalled trains behind were shunted back to Seven Sisters.

The Victoria line was out of action until 12.30pm. Piccadilly line trains were unable to stop at Finsbury Park for an hour.

The latest chaos follows temporary closures of Angel and Tufnell Park Tube stations due to staff shortages earlier this month, made worse by a rail union overtime ban protest against 1,600 planned job losses on the underground.

Transport for London blamed a “defective” train for Tuesday’s problems and apologised to customers.