Tube trains 'came close to crash' (27 Mar 2009)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Two crowded London Tube trains came dangerously close to one another during the rush hour.
London Underground has begun an inquiry into the incident near Ealing Broadway in west London at about 1800 GMT on Friday.
The Piccadilly line train and a District line train came within one train length of each other after confusion at a red signal.
A signalman is believed to have been suspended following the incident.
The District train had stopped after going through a red signal but had then been given permission to move ahead.
At that moment, a moving Piccadilly line train crossed its track immediately in front.

For details, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7972068.stm

[eightf48544]

Very interesting, it appears to be a case of one error, a SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) by the District line train causing the signalman to make another error.

Presumably the District train had tripped, stopped and the driver reported the incident to ask permission to reset the tripcock.

Posible confusion between driver and signalman as to whether permission just to reset the tripcock or reset and proceed  was given?

[thetrout]

either way, someone's in the dog house... and possibly out of a job...