Tube strike: Drivers to cut speed by half due to ‘noisy’ tracks, causing travel chaos

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Tube drivers will drive slowly on four London Underground lines from 10 October until further notice in a move designed to cause significant disruption to rush hour timetables. Members have been told to drive trains in manual mode at an appropriate reduced speed to “mitigate the creation of excessive noise and to alleviate the distraction, discomfort and anxiety caused in the affected areas.” “It is appalling that RMT driver members have had to resort to a programme of industrial action in order to force London Underground to take the issue of excessive track noise seriously,” said RMT general secretary Mick Cash. “This is an issue that impacts not only on our members but on the travelling public as well and the union is absolutely determined to ensure that the company don’t drag their feet for a moment longer.” He added that the union would consider what further action could be required “to ensure that the health of our members exposed to this barrage of noise night and day is given top priority.” TfL argued that Health and Safety Executive guidance suggests Tube noise is highly unlikely to cause any long-term damage to staff or customers’ hearing A TfL spokesperson said: “We have met with the RMT on a number of occasions on the plans we have to tackle Tube noise and look forward to continuing to work with them to find a resolution. “The health and safety of our staff and customers is our first priority and we have already agreed to provide a broader range of ear protection to drivers who wish to use it alongside plans for longer-term solutions to this complex issue.” According to research released in 2019, the loudest Tube journey through central London reaches 109dB – the same volume as a helicopter taking off.