Moorgate tube crash

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Moorgate tube crash

What happened
On 28 February 1975, at 8:46 am, a passenger train on the London Underground Northern City Line failed to stop at the southern terminus, Moorgate station, and crashed into the end wall of the tunnel. About 300 people were on the train. Forty-three people died and 74 were injured. It remains the worst peacetime accident on the Underground.

How it happened
The train entered Moorgate at full speed and did not slow down. The brakes were not applied, and the driver’s dead-man’s handle stayed pressed. The front carriage was crushed into the tunnel end, the second carriage was squeezed and buckled, and the third carriage was damaged as it rode over the others. The driver, Leslie Newson, was killed in the crash. The weather and ventilation in the tunnel worsened the situation, with temperatures rising very high as rescuers worked to free people.

Rescue and response
Emergency services were on site quickly, but removal of the injured took many hours. There were moments when rescuers had to cut through wreckage to reach victims, often in poor air and very hot conditions. In total, the rescue effort involved thousands of firefighters, police and medical staff over several days.

Investigation and blame
Initially, investigators found no fault with the train itself. A later official inquiry concluded that the accident was due to a lapse by the driver, Newson. There were questions about Newson’s state of mind and a high reading of alcohol in his blood after death, but experts could not prove that drinking caused the crash. The inquest and the inquiry did not find evidence that the train, track, or signalling systems were at fault.

Aftermath and safety changes
The Moorgate crash led to major safety changes on the Underground. A system was introduced to automatically stop trains that are travelling too fast into terminal stations, known as Moorgate protection. Platform 9 at Moorgate was updated with new safety features to prevent overruns. Signalling was changed so drivers receive a more cautious approach into terminal platforms.

Service changes
Northern City Line services into Moorgate ended in October 1975, and British Rail services started serving Moorgate from August 1976.

Memorials
Two memorials were erected near Moorgate to remember the victims, with a plaque added on the station building in Moor Place in 2014 after a campaign by the victims’ families and supporters.

Context
Moorgate station sits in the City of London and was the terminus for the Northern City Line. The tragedy highlighted the dangers of dead-end tunnels and spurred long-lasting safety reforms across the London Underground.