Tube trains avoid tunnel accident

[Daniel]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6751809.stm

An investigation is under way after a Tube train entered a tunnel the wrong way, into the path of another train.

Hundreds of passengers were on each of the two Northern Line trains when the incident happened on Sunday.

The driver is believed to have slammed on the brakes when he saw the other train, which had stopped at a signal at Camden Town station.

He has been stood down during the probe into the incident, a Transport for London (TfL) spokesman said.

"A formal investigation into the incident involving a Northern line train is now well under way," the spokesman said.

"Incidents of this nature, whilst disturbing to the public, are incredibly rare."

 

[yorkie]

This was quick:-

http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/current_investigations_register/070610_camden_town_station.cfm

Sounds like the route was not signalled for bi-directional signalling, and the driver set off without seeing a signal. Ooops. I guess the investigation will focus on the communication between the signallers and the driver.

 

[DavyCrocket]

This was quick:-

http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/current_investigations_register/070610_camden_town_station.cfm

Sounds like the route was not signalled for bi-directional signalling, and the driver set off without seeing a signal. Ooops. I guess the investigation will focus on the communication between the signallers and the driver.

Why?

The only person that is to blame is the Train Operator. This was a simple train service reformation.

The Service Operator has nothing to worry about.

 

[nickmanl]

Seems like tourists aren't the only people who get confused by the London Underground! Seriously though, how daft can you get?

 

[westcoaster]

hold on a minute dont all shoot the driver/operator, u dont know the full story, the driver must of had a reason for doing this he would not go willy nilly down the wrong line without a reason.

 

[DavyCrocket]

It was a mistake by the Train Operator (for whatever reason).
He was told to carry out a reformation known as a Stock & Crew on LUL.
He went to the wrong end of the train and departed. When you are under lots of pressure things like this can happen.

Now lets just hope that he doesn't have to look elsewhere for a job...

 

[Daniel]

Acctually I heard that the driver had not been told he was being routed into the wrong platform and simply didn't check for a signal before departing...

 

[westcoaster]

if that is the case how could he exit a station the wrong way , wrong road , surely there is a tripcock to stop wrongway movements

 

[Daniel]

If there's no signal there then there would be no tripcock, as normally there would be no need for one.

 

[DavyCrocket]

The Train Op had he wrong signal lowered and accepted it (this in itself while a pain for the customers is no big deal, the Operator will just have to write out a memo, or have a short interview).

Regarding Red Lights.

At locations where you can normally reverse Fixed Red Lights, with associated train stops are provided. There is a rumour going round that there was indeed one at the south end of the platform, but that it had been covered over. This means that the train would not have been "tripped" until the north end car's tripcock had come into contact with the trainstop. Lots of FRLs were put in to mitigate against things like this following a similar incident at Kings Cross on the Piccadilly line. Something very similar happened about a year ago on another line, the traction current was discharged and it didn't make it into the press.

Things like this will start to become more common as LUL has dumbed down the training for all operational grades (not the fault of those delivering training) but what you are required to know and how long you have to learn. Just take a look at the new "Rule" Book!

 

[richa2002]

It was a mistake by the Train Operator

*laughs at how tdrivers are no longer train drivers, they are train operators.*

 

[Tom]

It's been T/op since the inauguration of the Victoria Line - as they didn't drive the trains. The term spread over to the other lines as it's far quicker to say T Op rather than Driver

 

[DavyCrocket]

They are also known as Train Operators as they also operate the doors nowadays and provide customer information.
Having said that the Metronet and Tube Lines drivers are also called Train Operators!

 

[Tom B]

The idea was, I believe, to differentiate between Train Drivers (crewed trains) and Train Operators (OMO trains).

 

[Driver74]

Here’s a good example of poor reporting to scare the sweat out of passengers. Poorly trained staff is a time bomb in emergencies. No platform number was mentioned (which branch the first train was on). Or from whence the 2nd train was coming from. Wrong line operations wouldn’t have taken place into Camden Town ever? To much point work to secure.
There are no reversing facilities at Camden Town. Mornington Crescent on the CX branch is the nearest. Reformations used to take place at Camden town during a poor service in order to accommodate crew change over’s. I feel sure someone with clearer explanation can clear the air here?