Central Line Train Derailed at White City

150 passengers on the train but no injuries occurred

A fourth derailment on the tube in less than 18 months has raised further concerns about safety on the network. Once again it was the Central line that was hit despite improvements that were supposedly made following the Chancery Lane derailment.

80 trains were modified and the entire Central line was closed for several weeks after the previous incident. The other derailments occurred on the Piccadilly line near Hammersmith and the Northern line.

A London Underground spokesperson said: "At 12.26pm this afternoon, the leading bogie of the 7th car of a westbound Central line train derailed approaching White City. The derailment was at the relatively low speed of around 15 mph."

LUL are focusing their investigations on the track and believe the accident was not connected to a problem with rolling stock. The derailment occurred at a set of points that were immobilised, while they were awaiting further track work.

Around 150 passengers were taken off the train within minutes and there are no injuries. As a precautionary measure, emergency services are on the scene.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow was quick to blame the privatisation of tube maintenance for the accident, "It seems that we were lucky that the derailment happened in an area where a speed restriction was already in place and that there were no serious injuries. However, this particular speed restriction has been in place for months, and serious questions need to be asked about why remedial work has not been carried out by the privatised infrastructure companies now responsible for maintaining the Underground."

The Central line is currently operating as normal.

May 12, 2004