Tube failure hits thousands

Tens of thousands of commuters were left stranded last night after a major power failure threw the Tube network into chaos.

Underground bosses were forced to close 10 stations, including King's Cross and Westminster, and suspend the East London line for more than an hour.

Today a major investigation was launched to find out why the power failed. Lights went out and escalators came to a halt in what one Transport for London worker described as a " serious meltdown".

The Metropolitan line was suspended between Moorgate and Aldgate when the power failed just after 6pm. It was closed until 7.30pm, along with most of the East London line.

There were huge knockon effects across much of the network, with severe delays on the remainder of Metropolitan line and also the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Piccadilly, District and Victoria lines.

Transport for London said 10 stations had to be closed when a power surge struck. While Hampstead, King's Cross, Oxford Circus, Seven Sisters, Westminster, Caledonian Road, Mornington Crescent and Camden Town stations reopened within the hour, Angel and Warren Street remained closed until about 7.45 pm.

Buses were packed as commuters struggled to get home. Businessman Chris Grasby, 52, from Southfields, had been due to catch the 7pm train from London to Newcastle for a meeting today but was left on the King's Cross concourse after missing his departure.

He said: "By the time I got to the Victoria line there was a huge group of people just standing there because it was not running. I got back on the District line to get the Piccadilly line at South

Kensington and I got here two minutes late."

Others were stuck at Tube stations while waiting to meet friends and family. Student Lucie Hatton, 20, was waiting at Warren Park. She said: "God knows how long I've been here.

"I promised to pick up my little sister and I'm worried about her."

At Edgware Road, nurse Miriam Barnes, 25, from Clapham said: "Surely they have a back-up power supply? It's going to take me hours to get home. I really am about to scream."

A London Underground spokesman said: "Due to a power surge shortly after 6pm several Tube stations in central London were closed and the East London line was suspended. Normal power returned soon after the power surge. Most Tube services were restored within 30 minutes.

"We are working with EDF Energy, who supply power to London Underground, to understand the cause of the power surge."