Northern Line 'reduced' service resumes

London Underground (LU) have advised passengers intending to travel on the Northern Line that the reduced service has been resumed but is experiencing delays.

Last week services on the line were withdrawn over fears about emergency braking on the rolling stock used on the service.

A spokesperson for LU said that a reduced service was operating to all destinations due to ongoing modification to trains. Rail replacement bus services continue to operate and valid tickets are accepted on London Bus and National Rail services.

It was originally announced that it was unlikely that the Northern Line service was unlikely to be restored until Wednesday, but LU now expect the majority of services to be restored today with full service to be restored on Tuesday.

Round-the-clock work to make modifications to the emergency braking system has taken less time that anticipated.

Last week drivers refused to operate trains on the line after there had been an failure of the braking system which is supposed to prevent a train passing a signal at red.

However, the RMT union welcomed a move by LU not to discipline or stop the pay of Northern Line staff who refused to undertake duties that endanger the safety of passengers and staff.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said he was seeking all Tube maintenance to be brought back in-house as has been done on the mainline rail network in the interests of safety.

(SP/KMcA)