Night Tube crisis looms on Piccadilly Line

TUBE UNION RMT warned today that the Night Tube on the Piccadilly line is in crisis with a serious lack of trained train operators available to run the service.

RMT has been informed that the amount of drivers available to run the Mayor’s flagship Night Tube service on the Piccadilly Line is now so low that last weekend saw only 7 trains running instead of the normal 22 – a near reduction of 70%. The union understands that the situation could continue until Christmas.

The impact on the service has meant waits of up to an hour for a train for customers, serious safety concerns for drivers, and serious issues for stations staff facing angry customers – many intoxicated – waiting on platforms in the middle of night.

This lack of drivers is not down to sickness or industrial action but operator LUL’s lack of planning in getting enough drivers trained in time – something RMT has repeatedly warned management about.

The issue has been further exasperated by management’s reluctance to fully take on board a number of legitimate concerns raised by RMT Health and Safety reps.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“Tube bosses need to send out a clear signal that they are addressing the driver shortage issues which have reduced the Night Tube on the Piccadilly Line to chaos.

“London Underground also need to urgently address the major safety and customer service issues arising from the Piccadilly Line Night Tube crisis that they have created.

“ Instead of dismissing some of the key points raised by our safety reps , LUL needs to listen to the concerns of its workers and implement an urgent solution so that Night Tube trains and stations are staffed and run safely and customers get the service they were promised.”

> RMT National News

Wednesday, 13th March
Scotrail workers will be balloted for strike action over Driver Only Operation (DOO) trains, RMT can reveal.
Friday, 8th March
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “This report confirms that both passengers and the taxpayer have been victims of the government’s shambolic management of our railways.
Wednesday, 6th March
Maritime union, RMT today remembers the 193 crew and passengers who lost their lives in waters off Zeebrugge on 6th March 1987 when the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized.
Wednesday, 6th March
Responding to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's budget statement, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:
Tuesday, 5th March
Rail union RMT, has called on Mark Harper to reverse the Avanti train service cuts which will mean there will be no direct train between Shrewsbury and London from June 2024.