Central line commuters have suffered a fifth day of rush hour misery as the service was hit by a shortage of trains on Friday.
Travellers have endured a week of delays on the line amid the shortage, with a points failure at White City causing delays on Wednesday.
Commuters faced longer journeys across the tube network on Friday, as the Metropolitan line was also hit with severe delays between Watford and Baker Street following a signal failure at Northwood.
There was also no service on the Piccadilly line between Acton Town and Uxbridge on Friday morning while Transport for London (TfL) fixed a faulty train at South Harrow.
Travellers on the Elizabeth line also had to put up with some delays due to a faulty train at Tottenham Court Road.
Commuters took to social media to vent about the latest round of delays on the Central line.
One traveller wrote: “TfL's service is far worse off now than it was pre covid. Ten-minute wait for a Central line change is borderline torture.”
A second person added: “Central Line absolutely shocking this week. Train fares should be struck off during the ‘shortage of trains period’.”
Another commuter said in a message to TfL: “I would like to ask how is it possible to wait 30 mins for a Central line train? I got to the station at 8:25 this morning and I am still waiting to see a train come on the eastbound platform, whereas there were at least five trains coming onto the westbound platform.”
@TfL
— Beni (@benike15) January 19, 2024
Hi, i would like to ask how is it possible to wait 30 mins for a central line train?? I got to the station at 8:25 this morning and I am still waiting to see a train come on the eastbound platform, whereas there were at least 5 trains come onto the westbound platform.
The delays were raised with TfL by the leader of an east London council earlier this week, who urged “immediate action” over the service. TfL previously apologised for the delays.
“The delays and disruptions caused by the Central Line service are not only frustrating and inconvenient for our residents, but also have negative economic and environmental consequences for our borough and the wider London area,” Jas Athwal, leader of Redbridge Council, said in a letter to TfL boss, Andy Lord.
“Moreover, the reduced availability and reliability of public transport is likely to lead to increased car usage and CO2 emissions, undermining the efforts to achieve a greener and more sustainable future for London.”
Trains on the line are undergoing a £500m revamp, with all 85 of its trains due to be refurbished by 2029.
Each of the trains will undergo a comprehensive 10-week makeover that will include the long-awaited introduction of CCTV cameras and new “moquette” seating.
The Central line trains first entered service in 1992. The upgrade will extend their lives by “15 to 20 years”, according to London Underground officials.
Nick Dent, TfL’s Director of Customer Operations previously said: “I apologise to Central line customers for the delays they have experienced in recent weeks.
"We have experienced an abnormally high number of defective traction motors that has required us to take several trains out of service and implement an amended timetable.
"Our engineers are working extremely hard to get as many trains into service for customers as possible and in the meantime we are advising Central line customers to allow more time for their journeys."
