Radio Deal helps Tube Emergency Response

A £115 million deal was announced yesterday with the Airwave Radio Network so that there will be be full radio coverage for emergency services at all 125 below ground Underground stations. It will piggyback with the existing Connect digital radio system on the Underground. This is in response to criticism that poor communication hampered rescue efforts after the July 2005 bombings on the Tube.

Investigators from the London Assembly in June last year said there was an over-reliance on the mobile phone network; that the Tube's radio system was "antiquated" and it was "unacceptable" that rescue teams could not communicate underground.


Evening Standard June 2006
"British Transport Police, which has responsibility for policing on the Tube network, currently have radios that work underground, but other emergency services, including the Metropolitan Police, do not have compatible systems and so need to borrow BTP equipment or be accompanied by a BTP officer when underground.

The Connect digital radio network is now live on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and East London lines, and will be rolled-out across the remainder of the Tube network throughout 2007."

Ken Livingstone said "The addition of the Airwave radio network to the new Connect digital radio system, currently being rolled out across the Tube network, is good news for London. It will bring added flexibility to the way that emergency services operate underground boosting the Metropolitan and City of London Police response to any incident on the Tube and providing extra reassurance to Londoners."

See Transport Briefing for the full report.