Recovery from 7th July explosions?

[suncloud]

I know it's perhaps early for people to know, but I thought I'd start a thread for people to let others know as and when underground services will restart following today's sad incidents.

It's such a shame that this has happened and my thoughts and prayers go out to those affected. I'm sure London will prove itself as being able to recover quickly.

[Deleted]

I want to know that every single member and driver here is safe.

Please everyone confirm you're ok. I'm genuinly worried.

[Admin Team]

descendingsadly said:

I want to know that every single member and driver here is safe.

Please everyone confirm you're ok. I'm genuinly worried.

Hi DS,

Well, though I was at work I'm fine as I was well away from the incident when it all happened. My only contribution was to move a train from Acton Town to Chiswick Park so that stalled trains west of Acton could use the platform and then remained at CP for several hours.

I know that Alan and SB are OK and I've not heard of any others that are involved here being directly involved.

From the reports so far it seems that miraculously few staff have been affected in terms of injuries sustained, but I have no doubt that there will be quite a few in a state of shock - best wishes to all of those.

[setttt]

The first I knew about this was around 10am. I was in ICT and put the live BBC News 24 coverage up on the OHP. Before lunch, many younger students began to panic, due to the fact that their parents were working in the City.

The father of a girl in my class is an operator on the Hammersmith & City Line. Luckily she managed to contact him, and discovered he was simply stranded at Edgware Road and didn't have any problems on his train.

Soon before lunch, the senior teachers decided to prevent us from watching the TV, a completely disgraceful act IMO. Fair enough, don't let the younger kids watch, but 14, 15 and 16 year olds? Come on! We had a right to know what was going on!

Many students had to be driven home by staff, due to the fact that the Underground was completely inactive. Indeed, when I rode my bike home past Boston Manor station, Northfields depot was full of trains.

[Deleted]

Hi DS, DD, et al

I'm sure many people all over the country, in deed the world, will be shocked by what's happened. I hope that all those who have been involved will be all right. I'm sure many people, staff and passengers, will be scarred for the weeks ahead, if not longer.

I really do feel for those involved and their families - it's never easy to cope with things like this. I hope those responsible are brought to justice - but that's no consolation for those who have lost loved ones.

My heart goes out to you all.

[Deleted]

well ive gotto go into work later so lets see how long its gonna take me but from what i hear from my managers it is really bad they was at kings cross approx 3 hours after it happened and was asked to help moving the dead to which they did

[russe]

Latest news I've just heard on Radio 5 Live (c 17 00 hours) from an official source is that there will be no service until further notice on H&C, Circle, Metropolitan (east of Baker Street), and that the Piccadilly will at best have shuttles on both ends of the line.

Russ

[Deleted]

To be honest, I'm still in a state of shock. We all dreaded this moment, and now it's arrived. Obviously I couldn't get into work today, so have spent the day at Sudbury Town ticket office. The general consensus is one of pure shock.

It obviously could have been a lot worse, but even one person dead is far too much.

[Deleted]

Hello Everyone,

I am shocked and angry at today's happenings. I agree with Alan that we've all dreaded this day and to be honest, I was never sure how I'd feel when it happened - it seemed too horrible to think about in too much depth. All I can say is that I'm glad that (so far) no - one on the forum has had any harm come to them and that I am trully sorry for the victims and others affected by this debacle.

I think the attitude shown by the British public today is correct. We shall not these fiends destroy anything we believe in or the way we carry on with our lives otherwise. As for my interest in the Underground, I have had this all my life and will not let this put me off.

Best wishes to you all,

Alex

[Dmitri]

My most sincere condolences to everyone...

[Tom]

Copied from a post elsewhere (which some of you may have seen):

"I'm at Holborn right now and OK, there was a
controlled explosion around the corner.

I've just been to lunch and it's weird, the streets
are almost devoid of cars and the emergency services
are almost the only vehicles on the road. "


It's been a strangely quiet day in some ways, I've done very little work and had to take some home (I'll be working from home tomorrow). It's been a strange day, and my thoughts are with everyone.

EDIT: I've also subsequently spoken with Igelkotten who has enquired after everyone here, I'm sure he'll be along sometime soon...

[Colin]

The latest I know is that A full bus service is expected tomorrow. As for LUL - All trains at this time remain where they were at the start of the bombings. They will not be recovered until tomorow at the earliest. So there won't be much of a service before mid day tomorow. It goes without saying that the Piccadilly, Circle and H&C lines will have little or no service for some time to come. Also, from what i've heard, the damage at Edgware Road was extensive - so the Wimblewares will definately suffer too.

[Bill]

i've been reliably informed that some trains will be moved tonight by the few drivers that have come in for late turn. i've also been told that both RMT and ASLEF are instructing members not to pick up trains until ALL trains, track and stations are swept and given the all clear by police/management. I've been assured this has already been done on the Bakerloo... not really looking forward to getting back in the cab though.

[igelkotten]

Good to hear that all the forum regulars have come through this terrible event unharmed!

The newsshows and papers here in Sweden have been full of reports from London. The mess room at Gullmarsplan fell absolutely silent when the first detailed reports started coming in on the TV. As fellow tube workers, we can appreciate just what a nightmare it must have been for those of you who were in the thick of it. There, but for the grace of god...

[subwayrail]

I turned up early to see if there was anything with which I could help, but spent most of my time as a spare part since we could not move any Vic line trains for a long time. However, I did stable a couple, and it looks like all of our trains are in the correct place to resume a "normal-ish" service on Friday. I suppose the best we can all do for the time being is to try to live our lives in as normal a manner as possible and not let the b******s put us off.

[Deleted]

On the Piccadilly line there is a concern about abestos which may delay things even more.

[Bill]

I heard a disturbing rumour today that a couple Vic line drivers on the code amber at Kings Cross were sent down to the Picc line train to get people off. Apparently nobody else knew how to paddle doors open. The rumour goes that they were first on the scene before anyone knew the full extent of what had actually happened and got through a couple of cars before finding one completely full of blood, guts and limbs. Realising the extent of the carnage they went back to the station and called the emergency services.

Whether there's any truth in this rumour I don't know, i've heard it from more than one source now, but if there is, I dread to think what they must be going through. I hear removal of the bodies is posing a problem and the asbestos reason which LUL obviously want to hush up sounds like the most likely reason for the delay. So much for their claims that it is perfectly safe (until it is disturbed).

The death toll just goes to show how much more death and destruction can be caused in the deep level tunnels than on the sub-surface railway. Imagine if one went off under the Thames... Frightening stuff. I still can't believe it and my thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.

[Admin Team]

Well, it's now almost 36 hours after 'the event' and I continue to be amazed by the recovery that's been possible - at least to the train service.

I started at about 0800 this morning (albeit not driving - I was finishing off my trainee's theoretical stuff) and the whole of the District was running, with the exception (obviously) of the service between HSK and Edgware Rd and initially the olympia service was suspended, though I guess that this was as much to do with getting other trains reversed at HSK than anything else, but that service was restored pretty quickly.

In general the attitude at Acton was 'business as usual' and I think this is the best way to deal with the situation, though I'm sure anyone more directly involved (as described in Bill's post) will need time to recover.

The Picc train is obviously the one that's causing the most significant problems, to all those involved, for a variety of reasons. I suppose 'we' should be grateful that there were not more incidents on the deep tube lines.

On the point Bill raised about the detrainment of the Picc train, and the lack of knowledge of the technicalities involved, I'm sure that, if this is true, it will be another matter addressed in the inevitable learning curve that will affect us all once the post incident investigations get under way.

[Tom]

Bill said:

I hear removal of the bodies is posing a problem and the asbestos reason which LUL obviously want to hush up sounds like the most likely reason for the delay. So much for their claims that it is perfectly safe (until it is disturbed).

Having been on an 'Introduction to Asbestos' course I would tend to agree with the experts that it only becomes a danger when disturbed. There is a lot of it used for fire proofing on signalling cable, particularly in areas resignalled between 1968 and the mid 1980s.

I have to agree with you on the under-river comment though, having walked the under-river section of the Bakerloo in the past I remember the tunnel floor was always very damp and silty, I dread to think what the consequences of an explosion there would be.

[SE13]

Those deep tunnels have existed for +100 years, and a testament to the original designers, is that they are still there now! I hope to God that that the Pic tunnel will survive the blast, at least until such time as the recovery teams have finished, and can be repaired should the need warrent it.....

[Deleted]

Well, I have to say that tonight (Friday) was the quietest night I have ever witnessed.
I left Tower Hill at around 2300 and only picked up 23 people all the way to Ealing Broadway. On a normal Friday night, it would be nearer to ten times this amount.
I can understand people not being in the mood to go out and have a jolly up etc, but I sincerely hope that people are not afraid of using the Underground now.

I was asked several times today how I have the nerve to continue driving trains after recent events, and I give them all the same (only) answer: Don't let the b*stards grind you down! 'They' can't be allowed to win.
Maybe if I'd been more closely involved with what occurred I may have been thinking a lot differently. Even now, I'd be lying if I said that these bombings were not in the back of my mind constantly, but life must go on.

This evenings proceedings on the District have been interrupted by several security alerts. The first at West Ham, then at Victoria then later at Parsons Green. All of these were obviously taken very seriously and caused the line to be part-suspended for varying degrees of time.
As I was on a C stock duty, the only one which affected me was Parsons Green.
I was held at the signal on Putney Bridge eastbound when I heard the controller announcing the Wimbledon branch was suspended.
Without going into details, a driver in the PG sidings discovered a security tag removed from a seat and he didn't like the look of what he found under the seat.
The police were called and eventually announced it was safe. Obviously it was some sick bastards idea of causing an alert.

I had to have the points at the west end of Putney Bridge platform secured, then given permission to pass the signal and draw up right behind the D stock in front and then detrain through the cab.

I have to say the customers were absolutely superb (I'd been keeping them as informed as possible and even walked through the train chatting to them with permission from the controller!) and they all said thank you when they got off!

Sadly, I can only see the amount of alerts and service suspensions increasing as people leave boxes etc on trains and stations without thinking. We can't take any chances now, and hopefully our customers will bear with us when these suspensions occur. As I say, those people on my C stock this evening coming from Wimbledon (there were 48 of them) were all very understanding and supportive, which made my job a lot easier!

[Hardcastle]

I heard on News24 that there might be problems re-opening the picc because the section of tunnel around the bombed train may now be structurally unsafe. Anyone know if there's any truth in this? I can imagine the tunnel wall would be a bit battered but surely not that badly damaged after what was only a [reportedly] 10kg IED.

[tw]

hi gents.

this is my first post on Dave's forum.

I'm a welder based at Lillie bridge depot,Ive been reading this forum for about 3 months now and i can say it is very good reading.

i went into work last night and a meeting was called in the main hall, i can confirm that they have attempted to remove trains from both kings cross & edgeware rd & the tunnels started to collapse as the trains were moved.i dont know how serious the movements are but we have been told it could be up to 3 weeks before we can start any work on the track. we have had lads on standby since the dreadful day. we have 250 men at the bridge.

also i would like to add that on thursday night a broken rail was found on the victoria line at warren st at 4 am. men were deployed from the depot to warren st with the required equipment. it was re-railed and trains were running by 6am. well done to all those men involved for there hard work to get the service running.

[q8]

Without going into details, a driver in the PG sidings discovered a security tag removed from a seat and he didn't like the look of what he found under the seat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Security Tag?....What happened to the seat locks that you open with a carriage key?

[piccadillypilot]

q8 said:

Security Tag?....What happened to the seat locks that you open with a carriage key?

It's not immediately obvious that the seat is locked down. The security tag is similar in appearance to a cable tie and gives an immediate visual indicator.

Having said that, if I was preparing a train at the moment, I'd be giving a quick tug on each one to make sure it's secure.

[banana]

tw said:

the tunnels started to collapse as the trains were moved

Interesting, because the "half-full" view from TFL's web site is:

"No sections of tunnel have collapsed."

[Phil]

banana said:

"No sections of tunnel have collapsed."

Yet?

[yellowsignal]

The tunnels apparently have not collapsed, but after a blast like that the structural elements could have been moved slightly. This can create an imbalance in the whole structure which could be dangerous.

In order to prevent a collapse i would guess they go slow and shore up everything in order to be able to inspect it all.
So LU is not telling lies, they just take care when moving trains and other stuff. This may take time, but a full collapse will take a lot longer to fix.

[yellowsignal]

And on the subject of places that could have been worse, please keep in mind we don't know if tha bad guys are still around, so don't give them any ideas.