Since a brakes scare last week the Northern Line has been pretty much crippled with almost constant 'severe delays' and crowded, interminable waits for anyone using it.
The problems began when LU were forced to double-up drivers on the Northern Line trains after four (count them: four!) "incidents of emergency" i.e. brake malfunctions.
Since last Friday the service has improved a bit with two-thirds of trains operating as opposed to just the half which were out last week. But it's still pretty bad,
However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel (no pun intended). In an interview today, a spokesman for London Underground said:
We hope to completely remove the need for double staffing later today and return to a more normal service as soon as possible.
Last Friday, Ken was told to "get a grip" on the Northern Line by Roger Evans, the Tory chairman of the assembly transport committee:
Ken Livingstone and Bob Kiley really have got to get a firm grip on London Underground and sort out these basic problems before the entire system grinds to a halt.
If Kiley can't sort out the Underground then London needs someone who can. This morning's fiasco is totally unacceptable coming hard on the heels of the mayor's outrageous fares hike.
London Underground, for their part, have blamed Tube Lines and Alstom, the companies contracted to undertake maintenance on the line:
We have been pressing Tube Lines and Alstom, who maintain Northern Line trains, to resolve the situation for some weeks now. The fact that they have not resolved the situation is completely unacceptable.
When the roundabout of blame and buck passing comes to a halt and something actually gets done we'll let you know.
