First Time Back on the Tube

iguana

I took the tube to Islington on Friday evening, which was quite weird. It's 2 stops on the Victoria line (one of the unaffected lines) from Seven Sisters where I live. I didn't really need to go there, but I thought it was best to get back on as soon as possible. I was at home yesterday when the bombings took place and no one I know had been on a train at the time. But it was still a bit nerve-racking.

I went down the steps feeling determined, there were a lot of people coming up looking kind of relieved and still a little dazed. Just as I was boarding there was an urgent message over the intercom informing the driver at platform 5 that he was not to leave the station under any circumstances. I didn't even think there was 5 platforms at Seven Sisters, there is only one train going through there so that would mean 2 platforms, right? My first urge was to run away and get back aboveground, but I got on the train.

The train was fairly empty; there were probably about 10 others in my carriage. Some people looked up to check out who was getting on, and the urgent warning that the train at platform 5 was to stay where it was continued, making the couple opposite me look very nervous. It was a relief when the train got going. The next stop takes a couple of minutes to get to, those who were with someone talked to each other and those who were alone were busy reading and listening to their walkmans. Nobody allowed themselves to look as if anything was different. I toyed with the idea of just getting off when we reached the next station, but knew that if I did the next time I tried to travel on the tube would be worse.

As I pondered this the train stopped between stations, this isn't unusual under normal circumstances, but today was kinda scary. Everyone looked up, realised we were still in the tunnel, and then tried to act as nonchalant as possible. There was a lot of very intense reading going on! When we eventually moved and reached Finsbury Park I had a bit of trouble convincing myself to stay on 'til the next stop.

The usual announcement began, "This is Finsbury Park station, please change here for the Piccadilly Line....." And it was cut off by a station worker on the intercom, "Please this regard this announcement." Everyone started, and some made to stand. "There is no change here for Piccadilly Line as the service has been temporarily been suspended." Opposite me I could see through to the next platform, which was cordoned off. I could see some of the adverts on the other side and everything looked normal, but yesterday a train passed through there with people on it whose bodies could still be trapped a few stations down.

A few people got on, no one got off and the train went on. At Highbury and Islington I got off. Everyone was moving quickly, I know people normally do but there was a different atmosphere. On the escalator even those standing to the right kept walking. There were a couple of police walking around and a queue at the information desk. Islington itself was bustling, although it was busier last Friday, one bar advertising 'Spirit of London' cocktails for £3.25.

Eerily the number 30 bus to Hackney Wick passed, it even had the same advert for the movie 'The Descent' as the one on Woburn St. Several of these buses passed me while I was there. They looked relatively busy on the lower deck but only about 4 people sat on the top of each one I looked at.

On the journey back, it was almost like normal. As I walked into the station a number of children ran out, the police were standing in a corner joking with each other and the station was busier than it had been when I arrived. All around were signs informing people who were making their way to areas served by the Piccadilly line that they should stay on at Finsbury Park and go to Seven Sisters where there were extra buses to take people to the Piccadilly stations up to Arnos Grove where service began again.

The trains were busier some carriages were standing room only, but this was 6.10pm on a Friday so it was still much quieter than usual, especially considering this line was moving people who would normally be on Piccadilly in addition to it's usual passengers. On the train every second person was reading a paper with images of the bombed bus on the front. Despite this everyone seemed calm, although people were looking at each other more than usual. Whether with suspicion, for reassurance or just to take it all in I don't know. Probably a little of all 3.

Perhaps because I'm not here that long (this night last month was my 1st night living in London) the thought that the tube would be attacked was always at the back of my mind when I travelled on it. In fact the last time I was on the tube, Tuesday night coming back from Soho, I was wondering what it would be like to get back on after an attack. Little knowing that my next time on the tube would be that time.

I have to say that the people here have impressed me with the way they are reacting. Very calm, and none of the sweeping hysteria that could have happened. I would never previously have been a fan of the 'stiff upper lip' attitude often attributed to the English, but I can think of no better way than that right now. There seems to be very little anger, just sadness, shock and a weariness of the inevitability of these events. And a determination to move on.

Tar.Aldarion

a lot of places looked very empty on skynews tonight but fair play to the people that still managed to get in to the pub
i would'nt change how i live anyway and they shouldn't.

angeldelight

I saw a video earlier of a tube near one of the affected stations at 8.30 am when it would normally be packed to bursting and there were 2 people in the carraige. It looked very odd, fair play to you for going back on

Riamfada

Chances of there being another attack on the train lines today were slim. Probably the safest time to use the underground. The damage to London could however been alot more catastrophic had the instigators been focusing primarliy on the loss of life. However it was a horrific attack.

Sparky

well done for going on the tube again, like they say if you had of left it any longer, you mind would be counting up the odds, but fairs due to the london people for not letting the events get them down, in this way the terrorists will never win.

damien

Such a fantastic transportation system. Heading over to London today and using the tube to get to my final destination. London won't stop for anything. If you like the London tube then check out Leytonstone Tube station, which is the area where Alfred Hitchcock was raised. The station has loads of murals of scenes from his movies:

http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/london/hitch/index.shtml

sceptre

iguana wrote:

Just as I was boarding there was an urgent message over the intercom informing the driver at platform 5 that he was not to leave the station under any circumstances. I didn't even think there was 5 platforms at Seven Sisters, there is only one train going through there so that would mean 2 platforms, right?

Seven Sisters has a middle platform (the Bay platform) that you never get to see but it has a line running through it from Finsbury Park (I think it's a works line, they were quite good at putting these on the Victoria line given that it's only newish). And it's a mainline station as well. Presumably them that work there have all of them numbered rather than calling them "northbound platform on the whatever reference"