By Ashley Young-
A train traveled on the Jubilee line between Finchley Road and West Hampstead stations leaving eleven passenger doors open, it has been revealed. The technical blunder that has left passengers shocked to later hear they had traveled in less than safe conditions despite paying their fares and expecting a safe service. There were no casualties, but the risk to safety and life was high enough to attract the attention of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch. No one fell out of the train, and there were no reported injuries or damage.
The incident which occurred just before the train arrived at Finchley Road station shows a dangerous fault in the train that caused it to happen. The Eye Of Media.Com understands an investigation will follow. A fault that developed in the computerized train control system is said to have affected the cab control provided for the train operator’s use to open all doors adjacent to the platform failed to function normally. These doors would normally only open if passengers operated the local push-button located at each doorway. Because some of these push-buttons were defective, some train doors were not able to be opened.
MISTAKE
The mistake is said to have occurred when the train operator mistakenly used a cut-out switch that bypassed a circuit designed to prevent the train from being driven with any door open, as he attempted to open the doors. Unable to remedy the problem of some doors remaining closed, the train operator made a public address announcement to tell passengers that he would try to fix the problem at the next station.A short time later, the train left Finchley Road station with the train operator unaware that some doors were still open. The train operator was contacted by a passenger on the train as it pulled into West Hamstead station, alerting him that the train had traveled to West Hamstead with the doors open . He reported this to control room staff and the train was taken out of passenger service at West Hampstead station.
The RAIB’s investigation will identify the sequence of events that led to the incident and consider the nature and management of the fault affecting the train’s door control system. The investigation will include any factors influencing the actions of the train operator the training, competency and management of the train operator.
The Rail Accident crash said its investigation is ”independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road and will publish our findings, including any safety recommendations, at the conclusion of our investigation; these will be available on their RAIB website.