Tube train set off the wrong way down tunnel?

Question

To-day in the London Standard.

This can't be the drivers fault, they don't have a steering wheel. The are dependant on the signalmen setting the points. Is this someone covering their behind?

Answer 1

They don;t have a steering wheel, but they might have a reverse gear perhaps, I don't know. Any way perhaps you should take your horse next time, might be quicker.

Answer 2

Maybe the driver was from France or the U.S. which drives on the other side of the road.   These systems are monitored by traffic controllers, speed controls and I would think, automatic warning devices.    

Have this ever happened before in the history of the Tube?

Answer 3

But it helps if you get in the right end.

Answer 4

This seems to be what happend.  The driver got in the wrong end and drove it the wrong way until he saw the lights of a train in front.

"At approx 17:35 hrs a northbound Northern Line train was incorrectly signalled into the High Barnet platform at Camden Town when it was scheduled to go to Edgware.  To minimise passenger delay the following High Barnet train was signalled into the Edgware platform, and arrangements were made to exchange passengers and crews between the two trains.  When the train in the High Barnet platform was ready to depart it set off in a southerly direction for a short distance; the driver saw the lights of the next northbound train, which was standing at a signal, and stopped the train.  Arrangements were made to return the train to Camden Town station."

Answer 5

come on give the guy a break! haven't we all gone the wrong way on a one way road before? i know i have, lucky for me no one was coming the other way!!

Answer 6

The driver "changed ends" and in all the confusion didn't even look for a signal. We all make mistakes, but..............! ! !

Answer 7

The London Evening Standard is talking bull, as usual.

The chances are, the driver had to perform a shunting movement, or wrong direction move, because of a track problem or blockage of the line ahead.

To do this, he would have had the permission of the signaller, who would have set the points accordingly.

There are specific rules and regulations laid down for this sort of degraded working.