New Tube asbestos misery

Thousands of Tube commuters face travel chaos over yet another safety scare - this time over dangerous asbestos dust.

Train drivers' union Aslef warns it will order its members not to drive trains over a key section of the Victoria line because of the dangers of asbestos dust being inhaled at Brixton Station.

LU plans to install new escalators at Brixton, requiring an improved power supply. Putting in the new power lines will mean disturbing asbestos used in the construction of the station.

Aslef is demanding urgent assurances from London Underground over the removal of the asbestos.

The union has given Tube chiefs until Tuesday to produce these assurances. If not it will order its drivers to turn their trains round at Victoria.

This will cause massive disruption on the line used by nearly 600,000 passengers a day.

Non-Aslef drivers are also expected to refuse to drive beyond Victoria.

Steve Grant, Aslef London district secretary, said today: "Unless LU gives our safety representatives clear assurances of how and when the work to remove asbestos at Brixton station is to be carried out, our members will be instructed not to drive beyond Victoria.

"This is a very important issue both for our passengers and our staff. We have given LU until next Tuesday to come up with these assurances. We just hope the management sees sense."

An LU spokeswoman confirmed that asbestos is present at Brixton. She said: "There is no safety risk to our customers and our staff.

"Although asbestos has been discovered in Brixton station it has not been disturbed and in that state it is safe."