London Underground 'bursting at the seams', say unions after record day for the Tube

After the announcement that the record for the busiest day ever on the London Underground has been broken again, unions have spoken about what this means for the future.

On Friday December 4, a massive total of 4.821 million customers travelled on the Tube , smashing the previous record.

The London Underground is getting exponentially busier, with the announcement that 18 of the top 20 busiest days ever recorded on the Tube network came in 2015.

The vast majority of the Tube's busiest days in its 152 year history have been recorded this year.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers’ union ASLEF, has hailed the part Tube drivers play in keeping London on the rails.

“We are thrilled to play a key part in delivering this vital public service to people who live, and work, in London," he said.

"Our train operators on the Tube are at the sharp end of this – literally as they are up there in the cab driving the Tube trains – and carrying so many people promptly and safely is what we do."

Mick Whelan believes that this record won't last long, and will likely be beaten again before the end of the year.

"Naturally, with such growth, we must mutually endeavour to ensure that the platform/train interface remains viable and safe with the increasing numbers we now generate," he added.

"More and more people are using the Underground – the result of economic factors and population growth – and I think that new record will be beaten before the end of the year."

Following the announcement, general secretary of RMT Mick Cash has claimed that the Tube network is now overcrowded.

He said: "The news today that tube passenger numbers have once again broken all records comes against a background of severe and dangerous overcrowding as we try and cram more people into services already busting at the seams.

"To be gearing up to axe over 800 station jobs in just two months time against this background is a lethal gamble with passenger and staff safety and RMT repeats the call for those cuts to be halted."

Unions are still standing firm against the new revised offer for the Night Tube, with Aslef claiming that the 24 hour service will never come into fruition .