The Greater London Assembly is to launch its own probe into the weekend tube derailment.

The Assembly has instructed its transport committee to investigate the January 25 train crash, believed to have been caused after a motor fell off the fifth carriage.

Saturday's derailment threw the train against the tunnel wall, shattering windows and injuring 32 passengers.

London Underground yesterday admitted they have known about the problem with the Central Line's rolling stock for more than two years.

The investigation will look at the management and maintenance arrangements, project management and purchasing for the Central Line trains.

Other aspects to be scrutinised include the safety procedures under the Public- Private Partnership shadow- running regime and crash evacuation plans.

The Assembly will also scrutinise what alternative transport was available for commuters and "the efficiency of efforts" to restore services to the Central and Waterloo and City lines.

Assembly's Transport Committee chairman John Biggs, who tabled the motion, said: "This was a very serious incident that has undoubtedly damaged the confidence of Londoners."

He added: "We must make sure that it does not happen again. The last thing we want to do is duplicate the job of the Health and Safety Executive, but this Assembly must assert its right to hold London Underground accountable and add value through its scrutiny role."

The London Assembly would "champion" the rights of passengers, and look into concerns held by staff, to ensure the Mayor and Transport for London were ready to take over the Underground, Mr Biggs said.

The two tube lines closed by Saturday's derailment will remain closed until at least the end of the week, LU said yesterday.

January 29, 2003 17:00