Union fury at late night passengers hit by Tube signal failure

THOUSANDS of late night passengers were hit by a signal fault on the London Underground, the rail union RMT said. The union is now demanding an explanation from LU after last night’s signal failure left passengers stranded at midnight

By Mike Brooke

THOUSANDS of late night passengers were hit by a signal fault on the London Underground, the rail union RMT said today.

The union is now demanding an explanation from transport bosses after last night’s signal failure left passengers stranded at midnight on the Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines.

Many would have missed last connections with other lines to get home when trains were held up for 45 minutes between King’s Cross and Farringdon, the union pointed out.

“It is down to LU to make sure passengers can finish their journeys,” RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today.

“If a failure like this occurs, LU should hold connection trains or even lay on taxis.

“But it seems nothing is in place to ensure passengers are provided with advice, let alone a taxi.”

The union is furious that “lack of contingency plans” leaves rail staff in the firing line from angry passengers.

The hold-up affected journeys through central London and out to East London till around 1am this-morning.