LU knew about fault

London Underground knew the problem of motors breaking free on high-speed Central line trains 15 months ago, it was revealed today.

The alarm was first raised as one of the £3million trains was entering Hainault depot in October 2001. A half-ton motor "became dislodged" LU confirmed today.

In a second incident, at Loughton station last September, a motor broke free and derailed a train being shunted from the middle platform.

An internal report seen by the Evening Standard stated "the motor of one car had sheared off and was sitting on the track". An LU spokesman confirmed the Hainault incident, saying: "The motor did not come off but became dislodged."

A motor breaking away from its mounting caused the derailment of the Central line train at Chancery Lane station on Saturday, injuring 32 passengers. The last four carriages of the eight-car train were derailed.

There was mounting furore when it was revealed that LU knew the westbound train had a problem some 15 or 20 minutes before it crashed - but did not take it out of service.

The alarm was first raised by the driver of an eastbound train who passed the faulty westbound one at Leyton depot. It was making such a noise that he reported it to the line controller at White City. The alarm was also raised at Bank station when an employee reported an "unusual noise".

Driver Steve Cusick received a call from the line controller saying "Yes, you have got a problem." Mr Cusick said the controller asked him to continue to Holborn where the train would be taken out of service - calling at St Paul's and Chancery Lane on the way.

There is confusion over who is responsible for taking a train out of service. Drivers have contacted the Evening Standard to tell how they are repeatedly "pressurised" to keep trains in service. Steve Grant of Aslef, the train drivers' union, said: "LU recognised there was a problem and passengers should have been taken off at St Paul's."

RMT leader Bob Crow said: "We don't even really know who is investigating Saturday's incident. Only a week ago one of our members lodged a grievance for the bullying and threats he received after refusing to move a train he reported defective after hearing banging noises."

An LU spokesman said of circumstances which led to the derailment: "The train was monitored as per procedures and reasonable judgment was exercised by staff at all times."