28th February 1975

30 years ago today: The Moorgate Tube Disaster

I was living in London at the time and I remember a young student on the morning of the disaster telling me how she missed the doomed train by seconds. I seem to remember there was a great deal of speculation about the possiblity of suicide but in the end the cause remains a mystery to this day.

The final death toll was 43. The driver had been in good health and had not taken any alcohol or drugs, and was considered an unlikely suicide candidate. He had worked for London Underground since 1969 and was known to be a careful, conscientious driver. The guard, 18-year-old Robert Harris, admitted that he had not noticed the train getting faster as it pulled into the station. Investigations carried out after the crash confirmed the brakes had not been applied and the driver had not even raised his hands to protect his face at the moment of impact.