The incident happened on the Metropolitan Line last year (Picture: Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty)
A Tube driver working for Transport for London (TfL) fell asleep on shift and passed through a red signal unauthorised, according to a report.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request revealed the driver overran a platform by 50 metres between Ruislip and Ickenham stations.
The incident happened on the Metropolitan Line at around 12.40am on March 12, 2022, which saw the train go through a red light at the end of Ickenham station.
The train’s emergency braking system kicked in and no one was hurt, the report reveals.
The driver has been taken off duty while the investigation continues, reports the Evening Standard.
The report also revealed seven Tube drivers contacted TfL’s safety officers with reports of ‘feeling overwhelming exhaustion’ and ‘starting to fall asleep’ on shift.
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef), the union that represents most Tube drivers, has warned TfL to ’take driver fatigue seriously’.
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The driver failed to stop between Ickenham and Ruislip (Picture: Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Finn Brennan, Alsef’s London Underground organiser, told the publication that the union has been pushing for years to make sure improvements are made.
He said: ‘Drivers work a punishing shift system that often means getting up at 3.30am, or earlier, to travel to work one week and not finishing until after 1.30am the next.
‘Our health and safety reps have worked hard to get management to recognise the extent of the problem and make changes to policies.
‘Shift workers can often be prevented from sleeping when off duty by things outside their control such as building work or noise in the neighbourhood.’
He also claimed that the Underground network is trying to ‘cut drivers’ breaks under the guise of improving productivity’, something TfL has denied.
A TfL spokesperson said: ‘These reports show our colleagues are aware of the risks and feel they will be supported if they report it.
‘It also helps us improve our work to manage fatigue.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted TfL for further comment.
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The driver failed to stop between Ickenham and Ruislip.
