London Underground- Keep back from the edge! (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

Anyone else seen this new BBC series 'The tube' that looks at the trials and tribulations of the 20,000 people who work on the undeground to help the four million people who use it every day? Its a very enjoyable series with open and frank interview with staff and the public. But some of the scenes are pretty sobering, last nights episode concerned a tube driver's worst nightmare when they have ' one under ' , that is when a person tries to kill themselves or falls in front of the train. Some very very sad cases indeed and a terrible thing for the drivers and those who quite literally have to pick up the pieces. I use the tube very often and have never given it much thought to be honest, but after hearing of the following incident I shall (especially on a Friday or Saturday night) be way back against the platform wall. Apparently on these evenings and after a few drinks a popular ' sport' is drunken guys pushing their mates as close to the edge as possible without actually pushing them off the edge. On one occasion last year one guy pushed his friend too hard and he fell, as he fell he reached out and grabbed his friend taking him with him who in turn grabbed a total stranger who was just waiting for the train, all three were killed by the train there and then.

One WPC on duty down there summed it up very nicely when she said , 'Whenever I'm down here I am 100% alert, you never know whats going to happen'

Wise words

Rob

 

[Mitch]

Every time I have used that dreaded sewer train its always been so packed and a complete nightmare. I don't know how people cope using it day in day out. If I had to live in the capital it would be pedal power. It really needs a hell of an overhaul.

Never watched the series you mention but have seen a couple of people who decided to play chicken with trains in newcastle and its not a pretty sight!!!!
Mitch

 

[Rob]

Every time I have used that dreaded sewer train its always been so packed and a complete nightmare. I don't know how people cope using it day in day out. If I had to live in the capital it would be pedal power. It really needs a hell of an overhaul.

Never watched the series you mention but have seen a couple of people who decided to play chicken with trains in newcastle and its not a pretty sight!!!!
Mitch

Add to your comments the 40% increase in traffic on the tube they are expecting in the summer during the Olympics and I shall be walking London.Walking London is fantastic, so many historic sights around every corner, I will prefer to walk across London than go down there during the Olympics.

Rob

 

[GICOP]

Check out this film if you haven't seen it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068458/

It was released in the UK with the title DEATH LINE, in the US it became RAW MEAT which should give you an idea of the films content:smile2:. I saw it at the cinema in 1972 when it was released, MIND THE DOORS took on a whole new different meaning after viewing the film{eek3}^&grin

Cheers

Martyn

 

[Mitch]

Rob..

Stunned in this health and safety world that they see the tube and its platforms as safe. They are so narrow its ridiculous for the amount of people on there.

I had a guy pull a stanley knife on me and a mate about ten years ago wanting cash. It did not go well for him!!! I would think many locals will avoid the tube when the games are on.
Mitch

Add to your comments the 40% increase in traffic on the tube they are expecting in the summer during the Olympics and I shall be walking London.Walking London is fantastic, so many historic sights around every corner, I will prefer to walk across London than go down there during the Olympics.

Rob

 

[Rob]

Rob..

Stunned in this health and safety world that they see the tube and its platforms as safe. They are so narrow its ridiculous for the amount of people on there.

I had a guy pull a stanley knife on me and a mate about ten years ago wanting cash. It did not go well for him!!! I would think many locals will avoid the tube when the games are on.
Mitch

Your experience is not uncommon I'd say. However there IS light at the end of the tunnel (sorry for pun). The station refurbishments are happening at a pace and the results are much better. They are gradually upgrading all the stations one by one, Tottenham Court Road station for instance is now four times its original size, quite something for an old well established station. Also Green Park looks really good now following the upgrade its had, probably a result of Olympic visitors heading to Buck Palace and the new Bomber Command memorial in the Park. Also the new trains coming online are a huge improvement, no more doors at the end of each carriage but long open trains which will be a lot safer in an emergency and with....wait for it...keep calm...pour a strong drink...but yes.....AIR CONDITIONING!!!{eek3}{eek3}{eek3}{eek3}{eek3}{eek3}{eek3}{eek3} Yep despite being the worlds first major underground system its probably about fifty years behind the rest when it comes to air con but its now being delivered. Each week one of these new modern trains is delivered from Derby after a sixteen hour shunt from there. Finally when the Olympics is over and all the visitors have gone we will have a faster, more comfortable, safer tube. Lost count of the times I've been crushed on a train down there sweat pouring off me with no chance to sit down, happily those days look numbered now.

Rob