Passengers blamed for Black Friday

Passengers were today blamed for 14 hours of chaos on the Tube, which led to station closures, power cuts and diverted trains.

Problems began at 10.34am on "Black Friday", 21 December, when a security alert shut Ealing Common station on the District and Piccadilly lines for 20 minutes after someone left a package on the platform.

Two other unattended packages later caused 20-minute closures at Goodge Street station on the Northern line from 11.58am and at Southwark station on the Jubilee line from 3.08pm.

Meanwhile, power was turned off on the District line between South Kensington and Earl's Court at 12.17pm after a train driver reported a man in the tunnel.

Then, at 3.49pm at Baker Street a man, believed under the influence of drink or drugs, fell on to the Metropolitan line track. A female member of staff who helped rescue him received an electric shock and had to go to hospital.

At 2.30pm on the Central line, a passenger operated the alarm at Marble Arch station, delaying the train for six minutes. The semiautomatic train missed its "slot" and at Queensway it was taken out of service, which held up trains behind for 25 minutes.

As the service was struggling to return to normal, trains were halted for a further 12 minutes from 3.11pm at Mile End after an empty baby buggy was accidentally dropped on to the line. At 3.30 pm at Leytonstone stationan Underground manager was attacked by two youths while investigating a report of children on the track.

Back on the Central line, the current was turned off between Bond Street and Notting Hill Gate, at 6.48pm because of a drunken man in the tunnel.

Next it was the turn of the Victoria line when, at 8.19pm, a man suffered a "fit" on a train at Seven Sisters station. Ensuing trains were diverted to other platforms and there were delays of more than half an hour.

On the Central line, the current was turned off again at 9.38pm at Leytonstone when the manager saw someone jump on the track.

Then at Holborn station another drunken man climbed on to the Piccadilly line at 10.05pm.

At London Bridge station, another unattended bag shut the line between Moorgate and Kennington.

Just after midnight a man, who had been drinking heavily, relieved himself from the edge of the platform at Leicester Square station. It was fortunate that an incoming Piccadilly line driver braked in time.

Finally, at 0021am, South Ealing station also on the Piccadilly line was forced to close because of a serious road accident just outside.