§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the extent and circumstances of the failure of rail and tube services from east London on 10 May; what estimate he has made of the number of passengers inconvenienced; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NorrisI understand from the operators of these services that on 10 May, at about 0700 hours, the overhead power cables at East Ham came down, stopping services on the London, Tilbury and Southend—LTS—line. Fenchurch Street station was closed and all LTS services terminated at Barking until 0530 hours the following day. This incident also resulted in delays to westbound services on London Underground's District line of something in excess of two hours.
We do not have figures for the number of passengers affected by this incident. However, LTS estimates that 25,000 people travel into London on their services each weekday. LUL, which runs westbound District line trains, every two to four minutes in the peak hours, tells me that approximately 600 people travel on each peak hour train.
LTS has said that a full inquiry is taking place to establish the cause of this incident.