8,000 faults on Tube

Tube chiefs have admitted to almost 8,000 faults in the system, a secret internal report reveals today.

The private admissions of London Underground executives came on the day Tube bosses began staging safety talks with union leaders.

In the leaked document Tube bosses conceded there was an "unacceptable" gap between the condition of much track equipment and the basic requirements laid down by the organisation's engineers.

The report was prepared for the Government's Health and Safety Executive five months ago. It said the latest tally of "sub-standard conditions" across the 12-line network stood at 7,677.

The worst affected routes were the "sub-surface lines" - the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and East London.