Union calls for Hammersmith Tube station closure over 'anthrax and asbestos' danger

A leading union today called for a busy Tube station to be closed after claiming it had possibly been contaminated with anthrax and asbestos.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said there was a "potentially extremely dangerous situation" at Hammersmith station in West London.

Transport for London (TfL) accused the union of scaremongering and insisted there was no risk to passengers or staff.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said staff had been told that potential traces of anthrax and asbestos had been found during refurbishment of a bar at the station, which serves the District, Piccadilly and Hammersmith & City lines.

Samples were currently being tested, the area had been boarded up and secured and staff had been told not to enter, said Mr Crow.

The union leader said in an email to London Underground (LU): "I have seen the email regarding the possible anthrax and asbestos contamination at Hammersmith.

"RMT health and safety reps have raised with me the inadequacy of the response from LU to this potentially extremely dangerous situation.

"I am emailing to request that the station be closed to avoid any potential risk to passengers or staff until such time as your checks and tests have been concluded."

A Transport for London spokesman said: "Anthrax has not been found at Hammersmith station, we have simply sent some very old horse hair building materials off for testing.

"This is standard industry practice and is a requirement of building regulations. Nonetheless we are being very cautious and the premises have been sealed off to staff and the public.

"To suggest that this site represents a risk to customers or staff is simply scaremongering."

The bar being refurbished is in a shopping arcade at the Hammersmith & City Line station.

Building materials sent for testing after work at a Tube station did not contain any trace of anthrax, it was later confirmed.

Transport for London said: "Having sent some very old horse hair building materials from Hammersmith station off for testing, we have this morning been advised that no traces of anthrax have been found.

"This procedure is standard industry practice and is a requirement of building regulations. The station remains open and suggestions that this site presented a risk to customers or staff was nothing more than scaremongering."

The union said it had only been seeking reassurances that building work on a bar at the Hammersmith & City Line station did not pose a threat to passengers or staff.