Friday, March 1, 2013

Horror images show 30-tonne train speed through London


Out of control ... worker jumps from speeding train

THESE terrifying images show a Tube worker jumping to safety when an out-of-control 39-tonne train careered through central London.

The maintenance driver can be seen leaping from the 66ft train at Highgate tube station after its brakes failed.
The worker puts his hands on his head as the train hurtles off into the London rush hour.
Passengers can be seen in one frame waiting on a packed platform at Archway station as the train speeds past.
Video:

CCTV: Worker leaps from runaway train


ASTONISHING moment maintenance man jumped from out of control Tube with no brakes
A court heard yesterday how the runaway train came within 600 metres of causing a "terrible tragedy".
London Underground and its contractors were fined almost £300,000 yesterday afternoon for safety failings after the train caused chaos and put passengers at risk on Friday the 13th.
The maintenance wagon hurtled through seven stations on the Northern Line before it could be stopped.
Worker forced to jump from speeding maintenance carriage
Terror ... worker forced to jump from speeding maintenance carriage

A train in front of it was told to keep going and not stop, while its passengers were told to run to the front carriages, the Old Bailey heard.
London Underground, Tube Lines Ltd and Schweerbau GMBH pleaded guilty to endangering passengers and staff under Health and Safety law. They were each fined £100,000.
Tube Lines and LU are part of Transport for London while the German company manufactured the wagon and its tow-bar.
Judge Richard Hone said: “There was the potential of terrible tragedy.”
Worker watched helplessly as carriage speeds off into London rush-hour
'Frightening' ... worker watched helplessly as carriage speeds off into London rush-hour

He said the runaway train was out of control for four miles during 16 minutes.
“To those involved it must have seemed an extremely frightening eternity,” he added.
The court was told that a fault had now been remedied and the incident was extremely unlikely to occur again.
Jonathan Ashley-Norman, prosecuting for the Office of Rail Regulation, told the court that the rail grinding unit was being towed when it broke away during the early morning.
It started rolling downhill without brakes from Highgate and into central London in August, 2010.
The worker puts his hands on his head as train dissappears down the tunnel
Halt ... the train came within 600 metres of causing 'terrible tragedy'

“It could have led to tragedy but thanks to the immediate actions of LU staff, no one was hurt,” said Mr Ashley-Norman.
Speeds of 30mph were reached as it raced after the passenger train which was told to speed out of the next station at Archway, north London, and to keep going.
Control staff watched helplessly as they saw the flashing lights of both vehicles turn into one as the grinder got within 600 metres of the fleeing train.
Mr Ashley-Norman said attempts were made to slow the runaway train down using points at Camden Town and Mornington Crescent, and the trains were diverted onto different lines.
It eventually stopped at Warren Street central London when it reached an upward incline.
Passengers at busy Archway station watch train speed past
Bemused ... passengers at busy Archway station watch train speed past

“In the event, and fortunately, no-one was harmed,” added Mr Ashley-Norman.
Keith Morton, QC, for the Tube companies, said: “London Underground is one of the safest railways in the world - if not the safest.”
He said a billion passenger journeys were made on London’s Tube network each year.




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