HC Deb 02 December 1993 vol 233 cc642-4W
Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table listing the number of occasions on which the London Underground service has been affected by a power failure in the past five years in each case indicating the number of lines, train services and passengers affected and the length of time during which the service was interrupted; and whether or not passengers had to be evacuated from any part of the system.

Mr. Norris

Over the past five years London Underground has experienced one other significant power failure, at Charing Cross station on the morning of 19 October 1992. As a result of the failure of the local station power supply, the station was evacuated and remained closed for the rest of the day, reopening at the start of service on 20 October. All Jubilee line trains were terminated at Green Park, and Bakerloo and Northern line trains did not stop at Charing Cross. There are no figures available for the number of passengers directly affected.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has been given of the theoretical risk of simultaneous failure of all power supplies to the London Underground system.

Mr. Norris

An independent risk analysis report has estimated the risk of simultaneous loss of Lots Road and Greenwich generating stations and the Neasden bulk supply point to be one in 3,378 years.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers on the London Underground were affected by the power failure on 24 November; and what proportion of the total number of daily users of the underground service this represents.

Mr. Norris

London Underground has provided the following information300,000 passengers were affected by the morning failure, representing 12 per cent. of daily users. 20,000 passengers were evacuated from trains stalled between stations—in tunnel or in the open—due to the morning failure, representing .8 per cent. of daily users. 150,000 passengers were affected by the evening failure, representing 6 per cent. of daily users. 2,000 passengers were evacuated from trains stalled between stations—in tunnel or in the open—due to the evening failure, representing 0.08 per cent. of daily users.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether(a) the Lots Road or (b) Greenwich power station reserve for London Underground were called upon on 24 November; and whether either failed.

Mr. Norris

I understand from London Underground that there was no failure of the basic power supply system from the two generating stations. I am informed that the incident on 24 November was caused by the malfunctioning of equipment designed to protect the high-voltage system from thermal danger in the event of a fault.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the lines affected and estimate the number of train services delayed as a consequence of the power failure on the London Underground on 24 November.

Mr. Norris

The latest information from London Underground on lines and train services affected as a consequence of the power failure on 24 November is as follows:

Central Line 08:00—16:15. No service east of Marble Arch; 80 per cent. of services affected.

Circle and Hammersmith and City Lines 08:00—13:30. No service between Edgeware Road and Moorgate; 50 per cent. of services affected.

District Line 07:45—13:30. No service between Embankment and Barking; 20 per cent. of services affected.

East London Line 08:00—11:00. No service.

Metropolitan Line 08:00—13:30. No service between Baker Street and Moorgate; 10 per cent. of services affected.

At 17:33, following restoration of eastern Central line services there was a further power failure affecting both the Central and the District lines. Twenty per cent. of District line services were affected and 80 per cent. of Central line services. Normal service was not resumed on the Central line until the morning of 30 November. Between 25 and 29 November the Central line was able to achieve an average of 38 per cent. of its normal scheduled mileage.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the age and state of repair of the cable used to transmit power to the London underground; and what advice he has received about the likelihood of any future repetition of the power failure which occurred on the underground on 24 November.

Mr. Norris

I have asked London Transport for a full report on the cause of the power failure on 24 November. Until I have received that report, it would be inappropriate for me to comment.