RMT union expresses fears for safety on Bakerloo Tube line (12/3/2010)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

A union has called for Tube services on open-air sections of the Bakerloo Line to be suspended over the handling of a death on the track at Kenton station.
The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) claimed four emergency calls by a driver about a body on the line went unanswered and it took 20 minutes to turn off the live rail.
The union has advised its members they can refuse to drive trains north of Queen's Park if they have concerns.
Transport for London (TfL^» (Transport for London - about)) accused the RMT of "meaningless scaremongering".
A spokesperson said safety was the company's "top priority" and managers were willing to meet with union representatives to discuss any concerns.
The member of staff who was on duty at Kenton station dealt with Friday's incident "in an exemplary manner" and she acted "swiftly and safely", TfL added. "No fault has been found with the Connect radio system, though we are looking into the response times of the calls that were made."
The section of the Bakerloo Line between Queen's Park and Harrow and Wealdstone is shared with Network Rail services, which run to and from Euston.
A Network Rail spokesman said no emergency calls were ignored and the power was shut off within three minutes of the first call being received from the driver, just before 0900 GMT.