Reps’ explosive discovery

Safety reps from the TSSA rail union uncovered a dreadful safety failure by private contractor Tube Lines at a London Underground station last month.

The reps found four track detonators in an open metal box safe labelled “explosives” at Golders Green station, in a storage room normally used for liquids. The key was in the safe door, and liquid believed to be petrol was also in the store room.

Following protests by the reps – who said they had no idea that the detonators were being stored at the station, how long they had been there and whether any had gone missing – the detonators were moved.