Closures at Dagenham Heathway station on the District Line due to flooding are causing raised tempers amongst passengers. Locals have taken to Facebook to voice their frustration at TFL seeming to drag their feet in making repairs. One poster said the station should be renamed “Dagenham Griefway”, while another called it “a joke of a station.”
TfL customer services told Rising East that there were safety concerns. “For the contractors to be able to fix the roof, they needed some access to the nearby track. As the Tube is an active railway that could pose serious danger to the workmen fixing the roof, it took a little time for us to work out how they could carry out the work safely.’ They also blamed the cold and flu season and reduced staffing.
Darren Rodwell, head of Barking and Dagenham Council, told Rising East that he is in contact with the Deputy Mayor for Transport and, “appreciates the inconvenience” caused by the closures, also as he regularly uses the station himself.
The TfL spokesperson told us, ’Unfortunately, we have had to close Dagenham Heathway Underground station on a number of occasions in recent months to ensure the safety of customers and staff, following flooding caused by significantly heavy rainfall. The flooding is a result of damage to the station’s roof, sustained in a storm earlier this year. We apologise for any disruption caused and we will be repairing the roof as soon as possible.”
It seems the struggle for Heathway passengers will continue for the time being.
All images Mike Butler
Editor: Mike Butler