London Underground emergency response unit

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Prior to the implementation of blue lights and 'POLICE' livery, the vehicles were fitted with red and amber lights. Acton Works MMB 06 Emergency Response Unit.jpg
Prior to the implementation of blue lights and 'POLICE' livery, the vehicles were fitted with red and amber lights.

The London Underground emergency response unit also known as the ERU, is the emergency response unit for the London Underground and also the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, Tramlink and also some parts of national rail upon request. [1] It deals with incidents such as a one under, derailing, stalled trains, track obstructions, fence repairs, animal incidents and major disasters involving the rail network. [1] The unit has over 100 staff and around 130 at its peak which was the 2012 olympics. [2]

Contents

Overview

The unit was established in 1993 for the purpose of helping emergency services on TFL services. [3] it a level 2 responder and have 4 bases in Acton, Stratford, Camden, and Battersea. [1]

Blue light use

London Underground Emergency Response Unit vehicle at Charring Cross Station BTP ERU B88 on Scene of Security Alert.jpg
London Underground Emergency Response Unit vehicle at Charring Cross Station

From 2012, as a result of a recommendation following the 7 July 2005 London bombings, British Transport Police (BTP) embedded officers with Transport for London's (TfL) Emergency Response Unit (ERU). ERU vehicles were given blue lights and police markings, and driven by a BTP officer, to enable the unit to reach emergencies quicker. The unit carries TfL engineers to incidents on the London Underground, such as one under accidents and terrorist incidents. The vehicles are driven by BTP officers, so once at the scene the officer performs regular policing duties in relation to any crime or public safety issues. The use of the blue lights on the unit's vehicles is subject to the same criteria as with any other police vehicle. [4] [2] [5]

In December 2013, TfL announced that the trial of blue lights had ended, and that ERU vehicles would retain blue lights, as BTP drivers had halved the unit's response time to incidents. [6] For example during the 7/7 bombings, the response unit sent to Edgeware road station did not arrive for some hours in comparison it then took 45 minutes on average. [2]

Withdrawal

The use of police livery and blue lights ended in 2024 after a review determined that it did not meet national guidelines for blue-light responses. [7] London Assembly (transport committee section) has urged for this decision to be reversed. Elly Baker, chair of the assembly's transport committee, said "Londoners have been left in the dark about why this decision was taken and what evidence there is to support it." [8] [9] The RMT union has also urged Tfl and BTP to reverse this decision; stating that it will harm the safety of the public and staff. [10] They still have access to Bus lanes and do not have to pay the congestion charge. [2]

Network rail contract

As of March 2025, Network Rail Infrastructure Limited issued a tender for the continued provision of ERU services, resulting in a contract awarded to London Underground for a three-year period with five optional extensions, valued at £1.2 million. [11] [12]

see also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "This Team Is The International Rescue Of The London Underground". Londonist. 26 April 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Blue light for Tube emergency teams". The Independent. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Emergency Response Unit Data - a Freedom of Information request to Transport for London". WhatDoTheyKnow. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Incident response on the Tube to be boosted under 'Blue Light' trial". london tranport. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "'Bluelights' for BTP rapid response". BBC News. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Tube medic team cut after 'less conclusive' pilot". BBC News. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  7. ↑ Edwards, Tom (4 July 2025). "7 July London bombings: Passenger safety recommendation dropped". BBC News. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "TfL and BTP urged to bring back blue light status for engineers". BBC News. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Assembly wants blue light decision reversed | London City Hall". www.london.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "RMT backs call for restoration of blue light status for Emergency Response Unit". RMT. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Provision of London Underground Emergency Response Unit Services - Find a Tender". www.find-tender.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "London Underground Emergency Response Unit Services [Award]". bidstats.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
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