Metropolitan Line Update

The new "S Stock" trains are slowly coming into service but the rush-hour service continues to be appalling. The Association is, as a member of FOMLUC (The Federation of Metropolitan Line Users Committee), making its voice heard by the top management of London Underground Limited (LUL) but there are three underlying problems:

The signalling system and other parts of the basic infrastructure are so totally obsolete, and have deteriorated so much, that routine maintenance only creates problems, so things are left untouched and repaired when they break and, often, when something breaks a replacement has to be made from scratch as there are no spares.

The old "A Stock" is long overdue replacement and, because the new trains are only being delivered very slowly, are having to be nursed using a rapidly shrinking stock of spares.

Each of the new trains is taking a very long time to pass acceptance tests, because of problems with the build quality, and when delivered many are having problems with power collection and the doors.

The result of these three factors, coupled with poorly thought through changes to the manning of the line, has meant many disruptions and long delays. We have been promised a rapid improvement but there is little sign of it yet. We will report back after the next major meeting with LUL at the end of May.

Peter Crispin 16th March 2011

Do you know about planned changes to your train services?

Boris Johnson’s day out on the Met

So the time has finally been and gone for Boris to have a trip out of city hall and experience a breath of fresh air on the Metropolitan Line with its first air-conditioned train. With much fanfare and flash bulbs in early August, it made its official maiden passenger journey out of Wembley Park up to Watford. About time after the Boris style kerfuffle to get this point.

The launch itself had a half-hearted reception from the many watchers up and down the line, saying that it was of course long overdue amid continuing frustration about the planned reduction in seating capacity in tandem with rising fares.

And there has of course been a change in government since last writing on the subject in spring, with the obvious potential for cuts to the upgrade programme looming large – particularly for the long awaited signalling contract. That outcome would be particularly galling for long suffering commuters, with breakdowns and delays becoming increasingly more frequent and seemingly poor communication between staff to get across timely information about problems.

Other residents' associations along the line have reported London Underground saying they don’t routinely offer up platform staff to assist when there are problems and that they should instead be in the control room – with strong responses in return to argue that they jolly well should!

Still, the new train is almost here, and the first journey was, according to Boris, “the coolest journey in town”. Passenger services are planned to start on 12 December with the new train expected to complete a number of off-peak specials including stops at Rickmansworth up to launch date. And we’re told we’re still on course for all 191 new trains for sub-surface lines (40% of the network) to be introduced by the end of 2011 at a cost of £1.5bn. But here’s hoping if Boris’ counting of beans is as good as his catchphrases, then maybe we’ll all be spared the future gloom of cuts we’re probably all expecting.

Drivers walk out...

Meanwhile, on another Metropolitan matter, you may or may not know about a couple of recent drivers’ strikes at Rickmansworth depot – all related to the dismissal of a driver with 33 years’ unblemished service after an incident at Moor Park. Seemingly a passenger was injured when the doors were closed, leaving her on the platform – with union ASLEF saying the platform mirror was faulty. A ballot to strike followed with 90% of those based at the depot, 77 drivers, voting in favour.
London Underground says it was a temporary re-grading of the driver rather than a dismissal, and that the driver had not followed standard safety procedures. At the time of writing it’s unresolved so more action may come. Watch this space.

Russell Carpenter

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