Sandwich wrapper brings Tube line to 90-minute halt

RUSH-HOUR commuters were given a bizarre new explanation for delays when pieces of discarded sandwich wrapping thrown on the tracks stopped trains running for an hour and a half.

The tin foil, apparently discarded from a sandwich, shorted out the Piccadilly line when it crossed two electrical points and caused a signal failure at Hatton Cross in west London.

Passengers, all too familiar with tales of leaves on the line and the wrong kind of snow, saw a new official London Underground sign at the station which read: "Delays will occur following an earlier interruption due to foil on the line.

Please take your litter home with you. Thank you."

A spokesman for London Underground said today: "Foil was the culprit. The foil had been discarded on the line, thrown on to the tracks, and has acted as a conductor and caused the problems.

"The foil blew into a tunnel near Hatton Cross station and shorted out a signal, so services were suspended between Hatton Cross and Heathrow.

"The foil effectively blew the signal so our safety systems kicked in, turning all the signal lights automatically to red. They remained at red until we had established exactly what had happened."

The spokesman added: "These things are not down to us. It is down to Joe Public.

"Unfortunately these things happen because people are careless and drop litter.

"It caused a great inconvenience and we apologise, but this is a very tangible example of the dangers of dropping rubbish.

"We have been telling the public for years not to throw rubbish on to the line because it can cause a safety hazard. This goes to prove the point." The delays began yesterday morning and trains did not run from 7.45am until 9.20am, while bemused Underground workers wandered up and down the tracks trying to locate the source of the problem.

Foil is only the latest enemy faced by London Underground and rail operators in their battle to keep trains running on time. Railtrack has spent 50 million on equipment to keep the lines clear of leaves, which cause a mulch on the tracks and stop the trains from gripping the line.

We have also had the wrong type of rain - with spray occasionally so fine it spreads a greasy film on the rails. Nine years ago, British Rail said that the "wrong type of snow" caused delays.

Commuters suffered further delays on the Piccadilly line yesterday afternoon when a security alert at King's Cross held up trains between Arnos Grove and Hyde Park Corner.

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