Tube crash tapes revealed

Secret tapes today reveal damning new evidence about the Central line Tube crash.

They show clear warnings were given half an hour before the Chancery Lane derailment which has crippled the whole Underground network and injured 32 people.

The tapes prove line controllers were alerted by two experienced drivers that the train was "falling to pieces" - yet astonishingly, even though it had more than 800 people on board, it was allowed to continue its journey rather than being taken out of service immediately.

The first warning came from a driver travelling in the opposite direction on an eastbound service who told controllers: "It sounds like something's really hanging off underneath."

He had heard the train go past him at Leytonstone station - nine stops away from Chancery Lane - at 1.26pm on Saturday 25 January. The train eventually crashed at 1.53pm.

According to vital evidence seen by the Evening Standard - the transcript of detailed recorded conversations between the train drivers and the Central line controllers - the first driver twice identified the fifth carriage as the source of the noise.

It was from this carriage that a half-ton traction motor later broke free derailing the eight-car train.

The driver of Central line train number 41 raised the alarm at Leytonstone using his radio. He reported that the train heading into central London had just pulled into the middle platform. He said: "Don't know the number .. . but it sounds like it's falling to pieces."

The unnamed line controller attempted to make light of the remark replying: "One of our better trains, is it?" The driver, who is not named either, remains serious, saying: "Nah... generally it sounds real rough." He then twice identifies carriage five as the source of the problem.

The transcript reveals how the line controller made several attempts to pinpoint the noise.

At 1.27pm the line controller contacts Steven Cusick, driver of Central line train number 2 - the one that crashed - to tell him "there is a noise" coming from his fifth carriage. The line controller then contacted Leyton - the next station on his route - and asked for a member of staff to travel on board to Stratford. This takes place but the staff member reports that he did not hear anything wrong.

At 1.34pm Cusick says on that basis he will continue. The line controller replies: "Okey dokey. I'll get some staff further up just on the platform to monitor you."

At 1.35pm the controller contacts the station supervisor at Liverpool Street station and asks that train number 2 be investigated when it arrives. By this time, however, the controller is clearly becoming aware that something serious may be wrong. He asks the station supervisor to get staff to listen for "any strange noise, if they hear anything".

The station supervisor replies: "What kind of noise do they want to listen for? A squeal noise?"

Line controller; "No, not wheel squeal. Like gearbox noise."

Station supervisor: "Clunking?" Line controller: "Yes, yes, traction motors falling out - that type of noise."

Meanwhile, yet another driver - this time of train number 36 who is following just behind the train which crashes - radios the line control centre.

The time is now 1.44pm. The driver tells control he has seen "something of concern to me". He says he is just coming into Liverpool Street from Bethnal Green and the stations are "really dusty and murky".

There was so much dust that it was at first thought there was a fire. It was, however, believed to be the huge motor breaking free and starting to drag along the track creating clouds of dust and debris.

The controller reports back that there "might be a problem with the train in front, actually". The driver replies: "I've got to tell you it ain't half kicking up a lot of dust. I mean, you're coming in. . . you can really notice it. It's really, you know, really murky."

The controller then says that when the stricken train came into Leytonstone "three different drivers all commented that it was making a real racket".

At 1.45pm the decision is finally taken to order the train out of service. The controller reports to the Liverpool Street operations room: "Yes, so I think we'll take him out."

The station supervisor reports that the train has "gone past us now".

Line controller: "OK no problem we'll sort him out."

It is then 1.47pm and Cusick, unaware of the severity of the problem, is believed to be approaching St Paul's station.

The controller orders that he detrain the passengers - but not until Holborn where the next siding is situated. The controller tells Cusick: "You've got a problem with that train."

Cusick stops at St Paul's and heads onto Chancery Lane. As he enters the platform the huge motor finally breaks free sending four carriages off the tracks. Tom Brake, Lib-Dem spokesman for London, said: "This is devastating evidence obtained by the Evening Standard."

Mr Brake, added: "It is clear from the transcript that LU was repeatedly warned of a defective train yet an unacceptable delay occurred before the train was taken out of service. LU must now overhaul its reporting procedures to ensure that when alarm bells are rung they are responded to with the appropriate urgency."

Cynthia Hay of the London passenger watchdog, Capital Transport said she was both "shocked and frightened" by the revelations.

She said: "LU should have withdrawn the train from passenger service at Liverpool Street station at the very latest. I am very concerned that LU did not withdraw the train and it certain seems to be at fault in not doing so.

"This does not leave passengers with much confidence in the judgement of the line controllers. The drivers gave who evidence of what was happening were on the scene."

The Central and the Waterloo and City line, which uses the same stock, together used by 700,000 passengers a day, remain closed completely while safety checks on their 90 trains continue. LU admits the Central line won't be back operating until the end of next month - if then.

On Monday the Standard revealed how engineers are checking a possible design fault in the £3 million a time trains. LU today confirmed it is now investigating the train's design.

It was also revealed today that engineers are investigating the possibility of a gearbox fault. They are looking at whether the train's computer system put the gearbox into reverse which caused the motor to be ripped off.

There have been three earlier incidents of motors coming loose including one which led to a derailment at Loughton station last September. An LU spokeswoman said; "The circumstances surrounding the Central line derailment at Chancery Lane are now subject to a thorough investigation by LU and also an independent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive.

"We will be looking at all contributory factors including the design and condition of the rolling stock and the decisions taken by LU staff. This includes a full examination of the sequence of events leading to the derailment."