Staff 'reported fault minutes before train derailed'

A packed Tube train that derailed in central London, injuring 32 people, had been due to be taken out of service at the next station after a member of staff reported something might be wrong, London Underground said tonight.

The Central Line train was left with its windows smashed and doors torn off after the accident at Chancery Lane station yesterday.

LU revealed that the train was to be taken out of service and passengers removed at the next stop – Holborn – after a staff member on the platform at Bank reported hearing strange noises as the train left the station.

“A member of staff on the platform heard noises at Bank and it was decided that it would be moved to Holborn where there are switching facilities.

“They reported it to a controller at Wood Green who decided the train should be taken out of service at Holborn and the passengers removed,” a spokesman said.

LU also said that the train’s “black box” had been recovered and initial investigations revealed that it was possible a motor had fallen off.

“As it was leaving St Paul’s a minor negative earth was recorded, meaning that the motor may have hit something.

“As the train was coming into Chancery Lane, a full negative earth was recorded, suggesting that the motor could have fallen off,” the spokesman said.

He said the investigation was still continuing to find out the exact cause of the accident, which left 800 passengers scrambling to get out of the damaged carriages.

Union leaders today called for a public inquiry into the derailment and said all safety work carried out under the controversial Public Private Partnership should be suspended.

Mick Rix, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef, which has been highly critical of PPP, claimed that LU management had been repeatedly warned about potential problems on Central Line trains but had failed to act.

Last night LU withdrew the entire 10-year-old fleet of 85 Central Line trains, which were modified in recent years following problems with the motors, for safety checks.

Inspectors examining the site have also been checking that asbestos, which is normally safe and contained in the Tube, has not been disrupted.