daveb wrote:

I have used the Met line for many, many years, through different
governments, Ken Livingstone, Bob Kiley etc. Yet they all seem unable
to get the correct information to the staff on the station when it's
really needed.

The station staff in my example (and indeed most of the one's I have
had contact with recently) were as helpful as they could be but
obviously knew nothing about this situation. Yet the decision that
lead to this must have been made by "someone somewhere" at least 20
mins prior to our arrival. Yet it was not forwarded to the front line.
Is this a British class type thing? e.g. middle management trying to
avoid contact with what they see as oik's, or is it something so
ingrained into LUL way of working that it will never be able to be
eradicated?

It the simple inability or unwillingness of many people to understand that
someone, somewhere needs access to the information that they hold and that
they should pass it on.

It's all very well installing in wonderful new communications equipment, but
if there is no investment in the people's communication skills then it is a
waste of money.