This is the extraordinary moment when a Tube driver was spotted travelling at speed with the door of his cabin wide open at the start of rush hour.
The picture, which was captured by photographer Edmond Terakopian, shows a Central line train moving near North Acton station with no physical barrier between the driver and the tracks just feet below.
Tube bosses today said they were investigating the incident and insisted safety was their “number one” priority.
Mr Terakopian, 47, said: “I actually was photographing a bridge with graffiti, I wasn’t paying attention. It was only two days later when I was looking at the picture in more detail that I thought ‘Oh God, he’s got the door wide open’.”
The picture was taken on Thursday afternoon last week. It is not known whether the door had malfunctioned.
Mr Terakopian, 47, said: “It is shocking. If there’s one big bump and the poor guy falls out, he’s not only going to injure himself, he’s going to leave a train without a driver in charge. It’s not confidence-inspiring. We rely on everything on the Tube being done properly... it’s not going to stop me getting on the Tube, but I hope this is an isolated incident.”
A senior Tube source told the Standard: “It would be against the regulations to have the driver’s door open like that. It is too dangerous and too close. The driver could fall out or something else could happen.”
The source said there are safety features on the new Central line trains to prevent a driver’s door being open while the train is moving. But that can be over-ridden — although there is no suggestion the driver pictured did that. He will be questioned on whether there was a problem with the door.
When shown the picture by the Standard, commuters at nearby Ealing Broadway station expressed fears over potential safety risks.
Student James Price, 20, said: “You don’t expect that type of thing to be possible, especially because there are so many people on a train. It seems like a massive hazard.” Another commuter said: “He could fall out... it doesn’t look good.”
Chris Taggart, general manager of the Central line, said: “Safety is our number one priority. We are investigating this incident and speaking to the driver to establish why the cab door was open.” Central line trains have an automatic safety system but the driver deals with opening and closing doors.
