Visability was reduced in the tunnels following Rail Grinding work over
the weekend that meant Train Operators couldn't see the signals. There
is then the risk of a SPAD (passing a signal at danger/red) and the
possibilty of a collision with an obstruction - or a train.
The Peak Time number of trains in service are 4 on the Waterloo & City.

The other problem is that if trains are running, it is possible they
may push the dust into platforms causing breathing difficulties to some
customers, making people's clothes dirty and activating station fire
alarm systems, requiring an evacuation of the station.

With regards to Train Operators - Most if not all on the Waterloo &
City line are also trained to drive on the Central (which they could do
for a long-term shutdown) though today they would be kept in the depot
at Waterloo to run test trains at short notice.
It is near impossible to have an LU Train Operator to be able to drive
the entire network or more than one line as there isn't enough time in
the year to allow this - and yes some lines have fewer operators than
others.
PPP firm Tube Lines run Transplant (the engineering & special trains
division) and their Driver's know most lines but they have less driving
on the same line than LU Operators.

Hope this helps :-)



Tristán White wrote:

"Boltar" wrote in news:1165247160.601335.83270
@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:


alex_t wrote:

Dust shuts Waterloo & City line
The Waterloo & City Line has been suspended because of dust from
weekend engineering work.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6206828.stm

Trains stopped running on the line - often referred to as the Drain -
at about 0630 GMT on Monday when drivers complained of poor visibility.

Just how poor? Couldn't they see the signals or was it just a bit
misty?
Can't see how it matters on the W&C , what are they expecting to see
ahead , a Eurostar heading towards them having taken a wrong turn at
waterloo? AFAIK theres only ever 1 train on one running line on the
W&C.
Sounds like an excuse for the drivers to have the day off.


Surely drivers don't only work on one line? Would they actually have the
day off? Would they not simply be put on some other line that happens to be
understaffed that day (there's always one...)

I can't see that being the excuse. That sounds like a pretty unfair
accusation to make....