December 7th 2024.
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a tube driver on the Bakerloo Line? Sarah, who has been driving on the line for the past eight years, recently shared her experiences on TikTok and gave us a glimpse into the world behind the scenes of London's oldest underground network.
For Sarah, the day usually starts with a late shift, as she's a self-proclaimed night owl. In one of her recent videos, she takes us through her routine, from waking up from her afternoon nap to having lunch before heading off to work. But before she can start driving, she needs to "book onto work" which means ensuring she's fit and healthy and not under the influence of anything that could affect her ability to drive.
Her first task of the day is to do two "rounders" from Elephant & Castle to Queen's Park and back. For those of us who just hop on the tube without a second thought, Sarah reveals that this trip actually takes over two hours. And while there are staff rooms at the end of the line where drivers can take a break and grab a bite to eat, there's no time for bathroom breaks during these trips as they are often on tight schedules.
But don't worry, there are opportunities for drivers to use the restroom during their shifts. When they "change ends" in the middle of a rounder, they have a few minutes to quickly use the facilities. And don't forget, bags and personal belongings are not allowed in the driver's carriage, so Sarah shows us how she stores her backpack in a locker before getting behind the wheel.
As the day goes on, Sarah makes two more round trips, this time starting at Stonebridge Park. While sometimes the trains need to be washed in the depot, Sarah skipped this step and simply changed ends to turn the train around. And during a short break before her final trip, she even has time to read a book, just like many of us do on our daily commutes.
But what happens to the train at the end of the day? Sarah explains that as she was on the late shift, she drove the final southbound route and then had to "empty the train out, close it up, and shunt it back to the London Road depot." This means that the trains don't just sit in the tunnels waiting for the next shift, they are actually moved to a different location.
And after a long day of driving, Sarah and other TfL staff are provided with a pre-booked staff taxi to get home safely. So no need to worry about taking the night bus after a late shift.
But that's not all Sarah shares with us. She also reveals some "secret" announcements that we may have heard on the tube, like "Inspector Sands" which means there has been a fire alarm and staff have two minutes to report to the control room. And the numbered codes that we may hear in station announcements actually refer to different types of cleaning tasks, such as blood, urine, vomit, or broken glass.
So next time you tap your card and head underground to catch the tube, remember the hard-working drivers like Sarah who ensure we get to our destinations safely and efficiently. And if you ever have any questions about the behind-the-scenes workings of the tube, just ask Tube Driver Sarah on TikTok.
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