Tube lines to stay shut for crash inquiry

Two of London Underground's busiest lines could remain closed until Friday after a Tube train derailment in which 32 people were injured.

The Central line – the route on which the crash occurred – and the Waterloo and City line will be shut as rail inspectors continue their investigation.

Chancery Lane, St Paul's and Central line platforms at Bank may be closed even longer while tests are made to ensure no structural damage has been caused by the accident on Saturday.

The Health and Safety Executive confirmed its initial findings that one of the stricken train's traction motors – weighing nearly half a ton – fell off and caused the derailment.

As London Underground workers cleared away debris at Chancery Lane, the scene of the accident, union officials accused management of courting disaster by running shuttle services either side of the derailment area on Saturday.

Union safety representatives said they had been amazed that the same type of trains were running after the crash and accused London Underground of putting profits before safety. They pointed out that motors had fallen off Central line trains on two occasions recently at Loughton, Essex, and at a depot in Hainault, Essex.

Managers said that drivers were free to take trains out of service if they had serious safety concerns, but Bob Crow, leader of the RMT rail union, said that the assertion was "a blatant lie". Mr Crow said management had imposed a regime of fear and that drivers were bullied if they refused to move trains on safety grounds.

He added: "The crazy financial performance regime now operating on the Tube, under which fines are levied for late running, has put our members under intolerable pressure. It underlines our fears for the future safety of the network under part-privatisation. The process should be stopped now before any more damage is done."

The Underground has been operating a "shadow" system – in which responsibility for services and maintenance are split – in preparation for the planned public-private partnership.

Yesterday, thousands of commuters switched to buses and other Tube services, swamping the Jubilee and Piccadilly lines. Many took District line trains from Mile End in east London and Jubilee line trains from nearby Stratford. Those travelling from the north and west of the capital packed on to Northern and Piccadilly line trains.