Concern, CS Gas, Closures and Cake

Happy Thursday

Too much doom and gloom on the Tube at the moment, despite yesterday's figures about increases in travellers and trains (however you want to look at them - good debate guys - keep the comments coming in)

Anyway looks like we're getting nearer to industrial action on the east end of the District Line from the 23rd May due safety concerns. Yobs have been pelting trains with bricks and stones and according to union Aslef attacks on the line have increased by 50% over the last year. Staff think that striking is the way to go here whereas LU say they're doing as much as they can to tackle safety. It's grim whatever. More on this on the Beeb's site. UPDATE - This has now been called off....hoorah!

Also Dustmeister Anthony Smith sent me a link which reported of some CS gas being set off at Ealing Broadway station yesterday. Fortunately no one was hurt and there appeared to be no sense of panic. Amazing. I would have been totally freaking out, but I spose you wouldn't actually suspect gas immediately and just think, "urgh, funny smell, better get a move on". More on this on the subdued report on the Beeb's site. Plus a much more alarmist report from The Standard (now there's a surprise)!

Just to add to the happiness it appears that my line the Waterloo and City line which is used by me and 39,999 other commuters each day could be shut between four to six weeks. Sections of the Northern Line would also be closed for months to clear a backlog of repairs. More on this in the Standard.

On a happier note, it's the Zone 1 Tube challenge tomorrow (with many regular visitors and contributors to this blog taking part - including Neil, Geoff, Anthony Dustmeister, Chris Green & Stephen Knight). It starts at 12noon OUTSIDE Oxford Circus tube station in Argyll Street. And if you're not taking part, there will be drinks in the Horse and Groom, Great Portland Street at the end (from 4pm/5pm????), with cake provided by Helene. Hope to see you there to congratulate the winners, and listen to tales as to why the losers lost.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Thursday, May 19, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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