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| King's Cross fire 25th anniversary to be marked | King's Cross fire 25th anniversary to be marked |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The 25th anniversary of the fire at King's Cross Underground station is to be marked by a union raising concerns over Tube safety standards. | The 25th anniversary of the fire at King's Cross Underground station is to be marked by a union raising concerns over Tube safety standards. |
| Thirty one people died when a fire on a wooden escalator engulfed part of the London station on 18 November 1987. | Thirty one people died when a fire on a wooden escalator engulfed part of the London station on 18 November 1987. |
| The blaze is thought to have been started by a dropped match and led to a smoking ban at Tube stations. | The blaze is thought to have been started by a dropped match and led to a smoking ban at Tube stations. |
| Members of the RMT union have gathered at the station to commemorate the fire and highlight safety fears. | |
| Staffing call | Staffing call |
| Bob Crow, the union's general secretary said: "Due to a culture of complacency and systemic failure, 31 people lost their lives at King's Cross." | Bob Crow, the union's general secretary said: "Due to a culture of complacency and systemic failure, 31 people lost their lives at King's Cross." |
| He has called for London Mayor Boris Johnson to withdraw the threat of cuts to staffing levels and maintenance schedules and abandon plans to introduce more driverless trains. | He has called for London Mayor Boris Johnson to withdraw the threat of cuts to staffing levels and maintenance schedules and abandon plans to introduce more driverless trains. |
| Frank Dobson, the local Labour MP since 1979, said such tragedies highlighted the need for stations to be "properly staffed". | Frank Dobson, the local Labour MP since 1979, said such tragedies highlighted the need for stations to be "properly staffed". |
| "There are all sorts of propositions put forward by people 'Oh, you can get rid of these staff and you can rid of others' and then there's even this idea of getting rid of drivers on the Underground trains, which may be all very well until something goes wrong." | "There are all sorts of propositions put forward by people 'Oh, you can get rid of these staff and you can rid of others' and then there's even this idea of getting rid of drivers on the Underground trains, which may be all very well until something goes wrong." |
| London Underground's chief operating officer said the Tube was now one of the safest railways in Europe. | London Underground's chief operating officer said the Tube was now one of the safest railways in Europe. |
| Howard Collins said: "Our stations are staffed at all times while services are operating and we have been absolutely clear that we will never compromise on safety." | Howard Collins said: "Our stations are staffed at all times while services are operating and we have been absolutely clear that we will never compromise on safety." |
| Improved safety | Improved safety |
| More than 100 people were taken to hospital after the King's Cross fire, after becoming trapped as the escalator went up in flames. | More than 100 people were taken to hospital after the King's Cross fire, after becoming trapped as the escalator went up in flames. |
| About 150 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fought the blaze. One of them - fireman Colin Townsley - was among the dead. | About 150 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fought the blaze. One of them - fireman Colin Townsley - was among the dead. |
| He was awarded, posthumously, a certificate of commendation for his bravery, as were five other firemen who survived. | He was awarded, posthumously, a certificate of commendation for his bravery, as were five other firemen who survived. |
| In 2004, the final victim of the blaze was finally identified as 72-year-old Alexander Fallon, a Scottish man living rough in London at the time. | In 2004, the final victim of the blaze was finally identified as 72-year-old Alexander Fallon, a Scottish man living rough in London at the time. |
| Following the public inquiry after the fire, London Underground invested in heat and smoke detection systems, automatic sprinkler systems, CCTV and improved public address systems. | Following the public inquiry after the fire, London Underground invested in heat and smoke detection systems, automatic sprinkler systems, CCTV and improved public address systems. |
| Wooden escalators were phased out in favour of metal replacements and smoking was banned at stations. It had already been banned on Underground trains. | Wooden escalators were phased out in favour of metal replacements and smoking was banned at stations. It had already been banned on Underground trains. |
| Nobody has ever been prosecuted over the fire. The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Railway Inspectorate said there was "no justification" for charges. | Nobody has ever been prosecuted over the fire. The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Railway Inspectorate said there was "no justification" for charges. |