Staff put at risk by delays spin, warn unions

The union said passengers were being told there was a good service when there were actually severe delays.

It also claimed that major delays were being described as "minor" and that messages to passengers were changed too quickly after an incident.

The issue was sparking threats and assaults against staff by frustrated passengers caught up in travel "chaos," the union said.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Abuse of service information to create a misleading picture as to what is running and what isn't immediately throws our members on the stations and platforms into a confrontational situation as angry passengers realise they have been misled.

"We are calling for an end to this practice. You cannot cover up the impact of cuts to jobs and finances by throwing up a barrage of misinformation. It might suit the politicians and the senior managers but it's front-line staff who are left to take the flak at station level."

But London Underground denied the claims.

The Tube's chief operating officer Howard Collins claimed: "London Underground provides timely and accurate real-time information on how Tube services are operating for the benefit of our customers and staff.

"It is completely wrong to suggest we provide misleading or inaccurate information, or that there is any evidence this is leading to violence against Tube staff.

"We know this real-time information is valued by our customers and we have recently improved it, to make it more detailed and relevant to our customers."

paddym@peoples-press.com