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Victoria line comes to a halt in ‘rock solid’ train driver strike
Dick Murray, Transport Editor22 Apr 2009
Thousands of Tube commuters suffered major disruption today as strike action by train drivers over safety concerns shut down the Victoria line.
Businesses suffered across the capital as staff turned up late or not at all.
Union bosses say the stoppage is over London Underground “penny-pinching” which is putting lives “at risk”. They said the strike was “solid” and that none of the line's 37 trains ran during the morning peak — leading to severe overcrowding on other routes.
Mayor Boris Johnson said he was “thoroughly disappointed” that the RMT union had ordered the strike in a dispute which could have been solved through “constructive discussion”.
The 24-hour walkout began at 9pm yesterday and will continue until the same time tonight. LU warned passengers that there would be no service for journeys home this evening. The Victoria line, which runs between Walthamstow Central and Brixton, is used by more than 600,000 passengers a day.
Although the strike was ordered by the RMT, drivers with the rival Aslef union refused to cross picket lines.
Bob Crow, the RMT leader, said the stoppage was the result of LU's failure to address claimed safety concerns over train door operation, the sacking of driver Carl Campbell and the alleged “victimisation” of union activist Glenroy Watson.
He said: “We will not tolerate a penny-pinching approach to Tube safety and we expect our members to be treated with dignity and respect.”
The union says LU has failed to install equipment which would prevent trains doors being open on the wrong side.
A spokeswoman for Transport for London said: “LU has responded to each of the RMT's issues, which should be resolved through the procedures agreed with unions and without disruption to passengers.”
Passengers at Victoria station were scanning notice boards to work out alternative routes today. Andy Walter, a 40-year-old police trainer at Hendon, said his journey plan was now “a total mess”.
He added: “I'm trying to get to Colindale. I'll have to go to Westminster and get the Jubilee and then the Metropolitan Line and then a bus. It will add at least half an hour. It is unbelievable they should just spring it on us like this.”
Outgoing London Underground boss Tim O'Toole apologised for the suspension of the Victoria line but said he had not been tempted to reinstate the sacked driver in order to make his departure smoother.
Speaking to the London Assembly he said: "I apologise for this. It's unfortunate but you have to confront these situations. You have to be consistent and firm. If I had done a little fiddle to slip out of town quitely there would have been five more [such cases] in two days."
Mr O'Toole also said whether strike action was taken by the RMT often depended on whether employees were "in or out with the right crowd."
When asked if he had any advice for his successor, he said: "You can't do special deals. They will come back to haunt you. You just have to keep playing it straight."
Reader views (45)
There are good reasons why London Underground will not waste large amounts of taxpayers' money fitting Correct Side Door Enabling equipment on the Victoria Line.
There is no risk of passengers falling onto the opposite running line, because the running lines on the Vic are in tunnel and entirely segregated from one another. The only other line on which this is true is the Waterloo and City.
(ii) The Vic is the only line on which the trains drive themselves all day. Whereas drivers on other lines have the distraction of accelerating, braking and obeying signals, the only task of a driver on the Vic is to open and close the doors, and press the 'go' button. Less distraction means less risk of wrong side door opening.
(iii) New trains with correct side door enabling are being built as we speak.
The RMT are asking that money be diverted from worthwhile safety initiatives to pay for expensive, pointless modifications. Strike action puts passengers at risk by creating overcrowding on other lines. The RMT should not dress up personnel disputes as safety issues.
- The Officious Bystander, London, 21/05/2009 11:23
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Don't forget the REAL REASON why the train drivers are going on strike.
'Culture of bullying'
'The entire Victoria line has been suspended as a drivers strike continues to choke the underground.' Nearly 200 tube drivers on London's busiest line walked out at 9pm last night over "safety and harassment".
General secretary Bob Crow also accused the management of "a culture of bullying and harassment" of union members on the Victoria Line.
"The rock solid support from our members for [the] strike on the twin issues of safety and bullying should send a clear message to the management that we expect our concerns to be sorted out swiftly," he said.
See how BBC News Censored this real dual reasons why the Train drivers went on strike! They re-editored the article 8 ! yes 8!! times to censor any reference to BULLYING AND HARASSMENT!!!
http://www.newssniffer.co.uk/articles/214461/diff/6/7
- Dave, London, England, 21/05/2009 10:23
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While probably in the remote minority, I actually enjoy reading about Bob Crow's latest agenda as it reminds me of all the idiotic, pathetic, scrounging, lazy, pig headed, parasites there are in the UK.
- Steve, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Even if they have good reason to strike there is no reason not to give commuters in Walthamstow and other areas no warning.
This created chaos for us to draw attention to them. I hope they all get a pay cut.
- Will, walthamstow, 21/05/2009 10:23
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"It amazes me than people are vitriolic about a tube strike only because (boo hoo) they can't get to work the way they usually do!!!" - Belive it or not, it's important for some peopel to get tio work on time, or maybe not miss their plane.
"I would like to say get in the train's cab for 4 hours and keep driving up and down the line in the dark, dusty and hot tunnel." Yes, the intellectual strain must be enormous. It comes with the job - if you don't like it, don't do it. It's like a dustman saying the jobs fine except for lifting up smelly bins!
- Paul, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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A bit more publicity about this would have been nice. I took the Picadilly Line this morning, unaware of the strike. If I'd known, I'd have taken the bus or worked from home. I'm 4 months pregnant and had to stand all the way. The tube was hot and so packed I couldn't move my arms and had to stand on tiptoe to get my head above other people's so I could breathe. A journey which should have taken 15 minutes took twice that because the tube was so packed it crawled along. It was so incredibly dangerous and I'm surprised no one fainted or became ill. Tube bosses should have tried to control how many people were able to enter the station or tried to run more trains to make up for the larger numbers travelling - the ensuing crush was truly terrifying.
- Lj, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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When workers were building the Victoria line they dug through a three-hundred year old plague pit. Could it be that there is a jinx on the line?
- Mark, Venice, Italy, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Nick - London...can you remind just what the qualifications are for a tube driver....and his only task on the victoria line at least is to remain awake and work out his left from right?!
And as the vic line has been open for what 40 odd years, they have managed not to strike on this before yet 6 months before the trains are due to be phased out....?!
Max - oh yeah I really want to be left in the hands of some lardy tube driver who has concentration issue according to Nick, and has problems telling his left from his right, in the event of an emergency.
Am sure there are good eggs and bad eggs as in all of life - but this strike was for all the wrong reasons - their mate who got sacked even had his case thrown out at an independent tribunal. Deal with it.
- W, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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It amazes me than people are vitriolic about a tube strike only because (boo hoo) they can't get to work the way they usually do!!! I would rather travel in safe tube trains than play russian roulette with my safety every time i got on the tube. I live at one of the stops on the victoria line but i fully appreciate staffs concerns over safety. the rubbish spouted by some of these people commenting only proves what messed up bitter saddos some people in london are. Can't you lot find alternative travel arrangements for one day of your lives?????????????????????????????????//
- Kh, London UK, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Thanks a bunch you lot. Why do you always do it on days that I'd like to get to my office early? You're not winning any battles with the public, judging by the number of disgruntled faces this morning, and no doubt during what is going to be an overcrowded rush-hour this evening.
- Trevor, Brixton, london, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Maybe the WHOLE argument should be presented to the public rather than these "soundbites" from both sides.? This way a decent rationale can be reached. Safety of course is paramount and the Victoria Line trains, operationally, are one of the safest means of transport because much of the human element in driving/stopping etc. is "removed" by automatic operations - Train Operators thus get bored "supervising" the automatic systems and human error creeps in. Strange why the RMT pick on safety concerns that are just as important on other lines, where the human element has been "removed" by technology, but not on the older, soon to be replaced Vic. Line rolling stock. The replacement trains, due to roll out on the Victoria Line in the near future, will be even 'safer' and the Train Operators will have even less to do. The RMT stance does very little to help this and the union should be working with LUL to enhance the operators role rather than demeaning it. The existing trains will be no less safe tomorrow than they were yesterday - do the RMT think that filly blustering like this will make LUL suddenly spend precious funds on trains that are soon to be scrapped.? Further,London needs to be aware of the RMT's agenda in the lead up to 2012. This action is a mere drop in the ocean.! Ask yourself why ASLEF are not supporting the action..their members operate the same trains.?!
- El Tel, Norfolk, UK, 21/05/2009 10:23
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I agree with Jennifer re: selfish people squashing into the trains. These days the drivers are much better than in days of yore, refusing to open the doors when they get a leg or a head stuck. Whilst this is amusing to witness, more often than not the miscreant eventually worms his or her way in through the doors. I would suggest that a fairly strong electric current is placed in the closing-edges of the doors so that when this happens the person trying to get in is given a good old electric shock. Not strong enough to kill them, but strong enough to teach them a lesson. It would also lighten the mood amongst the other passengers who could have a jolly good laugh at their expense. I would feel my expensive tube tickets were well worth the price with that kind of entertainment throw in - wouldn't you?
- M Farbiash, Highgate, 21/05/2009 10:23
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I believe a driver only needs one hand to control the train, we can all guess what they do with the other! What a bunch of //////s.
- Blind Pugh, Woking, UK, 21/05/2009 10:23
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To M Farbiash, Highgate, I completely agree. God knows what those people who get stuck in the doors think the bleeping or the 'doors closing' announcements are for! I've even stopped helping people who are half in / half out, as I never get a thank you.
- Greg, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Bob Crow and Tube drivers are really not making any friends in London. They must be the most militant bunch of idlers ever. The sooner they sack the lot of them and bring in DLR style automatic pilot the better.
- Mcw, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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I'm horrified to learn that the train doors have no fail-safe device to prevent the doors opening in the tunnel or the wrong side of the platform.
If LUL have had this safety feature on other lines for years why did they not introduce it on the Victoria line as well? This makes a mockery of their claim that passenger safety is their top priority.
- W Smith, Luton, uk, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Crow is a stinker of the worst order. Even worse is the Transport for London Management team who just don't seem to have the guts to deal with him.
So--have a nice day off strikers, but don't blame Londoners when you get your lower wage packet for not turning up.Tough cookies.
- William Grierson, Kimpton-UK, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Why didn't London Underground warn customers about today's disruption earlier???? They knew about the strike 3 weeks ago???????
That's what they call customer care...
- Mick, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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The safety feature the RMT want is being fitted as part of the line upgrade. They know this? They know this because while the work to upgrade the line is taking place trains don't run on some weekends and there were lots of weekday evening closures. Bob's Train drivers still get paid when there were no trains for them to drive.
This strike is about them trying to reinstate someone who was sacked because he opened the doors on the wrong side of the train - look at their website: www.rmt.org.uk. To quote them: 'There is something rotten' about a Union that calls members out on strike, loses them a days pay and disrupts London, when the very thing they are striking for is being addressed.
- Nick, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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I will start treating RMT/LUL staff with dignity and respect once they start treating the general public with dignity and respect.
Saw a driver open the wrong side doors once on cirlce line at Bayswater. Should've reported him - not sure if anybody else did. Worker at the station said it would've cost him his job.
If they are so thick that they can't open the right doors, they need to be fired. It's not victimisation, it's the punishment for incompetence.
- Zaphod, zanzibar, 21/05/2009 10:23
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This strike is just to make the idiot Ken Livingstone look better !!!
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 21/05/2009 10:23
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While the rest of us sweat it out trying to get to work, worrying about our jobs, clowns like Crow have lost touch with reality.
Surely, it's time for Maggie to dust down her handbag. Let's vote her back in. Now!
- Haskey, London SE1, 21/05/2009 10:23
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If current tube drivers are not competant enough to spot which set of doors to open, let's get some who are.
The trains drive themselves for goodness sake - which doors to open is the only decision they have to make.
- Sa, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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"There is something rotten about a management culture which ignores crucial safety issues but which wastes time and effort harassing and victimizing staff." RMW WEBSITE
Reading all or your comments I would like to say get in the train's cab for 4 hours and keep driving up and down the line in the dark, dusty and hot tunnel. You will soon realise how easy it is to loose concentration and open the door on the wrong side.
Just hope you are not leaning on the doors...
- Nick, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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This is more evidence that Bob Crow is in a league of his own when it comes to using strikes as a political weapon, he and his members should pay damages to underground users for the inconvenience his walkouts cause the travelling public.
- Alex, London, United Kingdom, 21/05/2009 10:23
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And just where is Bozo on this? or the ludicrous 20% pay rise awarded to London Overground? He's supposed to be taking a stand against wasting taxpayers money!
- Roym, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Driverless trains? When the train catches fire/breaks down/gets bombed down the tunnel, who exactly is going to lead you to safety down the tunnel over the electrified tracks, uneven ballast and other sundry obstacles?
A tube train carries more people than a jumbo jet and we all expect the captain to refuse to take off if he has a valid safety concern.
Lucrative? - Don't equate the 123 people at TFL on 100k+ with train drivers and station staff. Tim O'Toole deserves his salary but his housing allowance alone is the same salary as station staff so who's really making money.
- Max, London, UK, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Why you call Bob Crow detestable, Jim of Battersea? I think he is a right tasty geezer! Mind you, I don't have to rely on the tube.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 21/05/2009 10:23
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When 'crowd controle' does get put into action on the stations, the passengers start getting abusive at the staff for not letting them in.
You travel through Waterloo or Victoria at 8am in the morning and you'll see how many people giving abuse to the staff on the barriers for holding them up.
No matter how much effort is being put into not overcrowding the trains, there is always one person that thinks they are too good to wait for the next train and push themselves in the train last minute.
How many of us have been squashed by another passenger as they jump into the train, regardless how packed it is?
- Jennifer, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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The victoria line drivers are striking as they want the trains modified to prevent them opening the doors on the wrong side doors in a platform. The only thing victoria line drivers have to do is open the doors - the trains are driven by computer. If they are so worried that they might do the one thing they are in control of wrong they shouldn't be in the job. The sooner the drivers are removed completely and replaced by computers the better!
There hasn't been a single instance of anyone falling out of the wrong side doors in a platform so to go on strike about this is ridiculous.
- Ian, london, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Ahh nostalgia. Economy in the toilet. Daft union strikes. Trains fubar, Labour government. Michael Jackson concerts. Prime Mentalist is an idiot.
Just like the late 70's isn't it.
- Ethan, UK, 21/05/2009 10:23
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London Overground drivers were recently awarded a mind-boggling 20% pay rise, to stave off a strike. With that single action, Boris has made himself look like an easy target.
Boris has to play tough otherwise we'll face a summer of strikes from unions, who'll think they'll be able to get whatever they want.
Whatever happened to that manifesto pledge to have a no strike agreement? Has Boris maybe realised that along with many of his other pledges, it's totally unachievable? How much hot air was in that manifesto?
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall, 21/05/2009 10:23
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But the new trains being introduced this year *have* the correct side door equipment!
Are they really striking to have it fitted to trains that are about to be withdrawn?
- Roy, England, 21/05/2009 10:23
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I believe the new trains that will be rolled out on the Vic Line over the next couple of years have correct side door enable included - I am sure the RMT know that this concern is being addressed.
- Kb, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Sack the lot of them. They are over paid and underworked. The sooner they get rid of the unions and Bob Crow the better.
- Tony, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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The rise of the the Union Leader as typified by Peter Sellars in I'm All Right Jack. " Everybody Out " The sheep followed.
- K.J.Curwen, Enfield Middx., 21/05/2009 10:23
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It made me an hour late.Lucky I hate my job,one hour less in here!
- Steve, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Funny, on the tube this-morning the driver was saying that the Victoria line was closed due to "staff shortages" -Lying bugger!
- Steve, london, 21/05/2009 10:23
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In the rest of British industry a life is valued at around £5million. So if it is to be worthwhile spending say £500million that would have to save 100 people's lives in the next twenty-five years of the installation. Just how likely is that I wonder? Is it not time public sector workers were read the riot act in terms of the facts of life by Boris instead of him constantly getting involved in British politics? Maybe it is time he did the job he is being paid to do, representing Londoners not the Tory party, and never mind keeping one eye on the prime minister's job. If he wants to be an MP let him get back top the house of commons.
- John, Aberdeen, UK, 21/05/2009 10:23
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This is nothing to do with safety. This is about finding efficiencies in the operation of the underground. Any threat to the exceptionally lucrative income tube workers receive will always be fought against.
The scaremongering used by these Unions to cash in disgusting.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 21/05/2009 10:23
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"the stoppage was the result of LU's failure to address claimed safety concerns over train door operation". Errmm, how hard is it to operate a train door? I do it myself every day on WAGN and it seems simple enough, and I've not had any training!
- Paul, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Andy Walter says "It is unbelievable they should just spring it on us like this"? Does he not think to ever watch local news, read the posters in tube stations, check online or phone TfL's 020 travel helpline in the 48 hours before he takes his journey?
- Chris, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Bob Crow is the most detestable man in London. I don't know who he thinks he fooling about safety. It's never about safety, that's merely an excuse for more money, the re-instatement of some agitant crony or grandstanding to his membership. It's high time he was taught that the tube and it's workers are here to serve Londoners and not the other way around.
- Jim, Battersea, 21/05/2009 10:23
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Nice tan Bob Crow's got there. Nothing to do with wanting to have an extra day off because the weather's nice, then?
- Robert C, London UK, 21/05/2009 10:23
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As for the shut down, didn't affect me. At the end of my night shifts, I have the pleasure of a nice, uncrowded bus ride home every morning
- Jock, London, 21/05/2009 10:23
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