Transport for London has dramatically U-turned on its planned closure of the Central line tonight – just minutes after warning infuriated commuters the line would close during rush hour.
TfL had earlier told customers no trains would be running on most of the line except for a shuttle service between Leytonstone and Epping/Hainault due to staff shortages.
But minutes after a public backlash broke out, the operator of London’s tubes and buses backtracked and said trains will run to all stations as normal after ‘finding cover’.
A TfL spokesman said: ‘Cover has been found and a normal Central line service will operate until the end of the evening’.
Sources at TfL denied that the U-turn was linked to the public backlash – and added that the staff absences were due to illness, but were not Covid-related.
Earlier, passengers had been left fuming at being given just four hours’ notice of the closure which would have likely caused travel mayhem.
One tweeted: ‘What a disgrace.TfL have just sent out an email stating that the Central Line will close today at 17:30 due to ‘staffing issues’. This is a working day in the capital city. @MayorofLondon, hold your head in shame.’
Another said: ‘TfL now think its OK to tell you at 1.14pm that Central line is closing at 5.30pm.YOU’RE A DISGRACE.
‘So @TfL @MayorofLondon once again it doesn’t matter if you have plans – you MIGHT get home SAFELY but ultimately you don’t care. It’s appalling.’
People on a Central Line train on the London Underground during the extreme heat on Tuesday
TfL backtracked on the closure notice and put out this email shortly after 3pm this afternoon
Transport for London announced the closure of the Central line in an email at 1.15pm today – but later U-turned
A message purported to have been sent by Des Friel, service control manager for the Central and Waterloo & City lines, was tweeted at 12.20pm today about the closure.
The note said: ‘Unfortunately due to high sickness levels, we will be suspending the Central line this evening.
‘Last trains through central London will be approximately 6pm westbound from Liverpool Street and 6pm eastbound from White City.
‘Should we be able to secure additional SRT staff we will run a shuttle service Leytonstone to EPP/Hainault only.
‘Once we have confirmed timings and train numbers for last trains, we will share these with you.’
‘SRT’ stands for Special Requirements Team – part of TfL which provides a mobile station staff team for upgrades and projects – and ‘EPP’ stands for Epping station.
The news was initially announced by Greater Anglia in a tweet at 12.30pm that some on Twitter had thought was a month old, from the RMT’s Tube strike on June 21.
The tweet said: ‘Please be advised London Underground Central Line will be shutting down from 17:00 today with complete closure by 18:30 expected.
‘TfL are advising to complete journey as soon as possible as there will be no service available.’
But Greater Anglia confirmed to MailOnline that the tweet was correctly posted and was based on advice given to the operator by Transport for London’s control room.
TfL then also confirmed to MailOnline that the information was correct, and that passenger communications announcing the late-notice change would follow soon.
Some passengers were left fuming at being given just four hours’ notice of the closure
But it took until 1.15pm for xổ số miền bắc the information to be announced in an email, which said: ‘The Central line will close early today due to staffing issues in the control room, caused by sickness.Complete journeys from central London by 5.30pm.
‘After that no trains will run on most of the line, except a shuttle service between Leytonstone and Epping/Hainault until the end of the day.’
The statement added: ‘Plan ahead, check before you travel and leave more time for your journey.We apologise for the disruption to your journey.
‘Wearing face coverings is no longer mandatory on our services, but we continue to strongly recommend wearing one if you are able to.’
It comes after major disruption in the past three days at London King’s Cross, Euston and St Pancras caused by the heatwave.
A message purported to have been sent by Des Friel, service control manager for the Central and Waterloo & City lines, was tweeted at 12.20pm today about the Central line closure
The above tweets were all posted before official confirmation of the closure by TfL at 1.15pm
Although Covid rates have soared in recent weeks, causing workplace chaos across the UK, infection numbers are no higher in London than anywhere else.
Trusted surveillance data shows around 5 per cent of people living in the capital were infected last week, in line with the national average.
Cases were higher in the East of England, West Midlands and South West, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Experts now believe the current wave has peaked in recent days, meaning it is now retreating naturally – without any restrictions being brought in.
