Is anyone else scared of being stuck on the tube

[hazelnutvanillalatte]

In the summer I was stuck on the tube with DCs when a signal failure meant the entire line broke down. Eventually the signal broke down, lights and speaker turned off and eventually they closed the station because they couldn't move the trains and signal wasn't restored until the next day. THANKFULLY we were above ground so they just opened the doors because it was baking hot and DCs had started screaming for water after they'd finished their water bottles.

I never stopped thinking about what would have happened if we had been underground...what would have happened, would we have been stuck underground in the dark and how would we have gotten out? The train was stuck for two hours before they shut the station and even after that the signal failure meant the train couldn't move. It has given me a phobia of being on the tube and if the train stops in a tunnel even for 30 seconds I start feeling pure panic.

We also got stuck in an elevator last year and I got over it to an extent but I can't use elevators that seem a bit creaky or are taking a long time because I feel that they are going to break down and get stuck.

Does anyone else have this fear and how do you deal with it? It's necessary for us to use the tube/elevator sometimes but I just get so panicky. I spoke to family and they told me to be prepared, so now I always carry extra water and a torch, but it's just the feeling of being physically trapped that now panics me.

Yes, I got stuck underground once. Like you it was a baking hot day. The lights all went out. The announcer kept asking people to share water if they had it. Eventually we were walked out along the track and the staff at the platform had huge fans and bottles of water. It was quite scary but I trusted the staff.

I used to be afraid after I was in the underground in the 80s when there was a fire. I walk if I can but sometimes it is more convenient to take the tube. I focus on reading a book or talking to whomever I with. A few years ago I was stuck for an hour or so. It turned out lovely, someone started singing and most people joined in. I was near a group of Italian ladies who were on their way to a family event, they had wine, paper cups and nibbles, they shared with me, the time went so quickly.
Every day is an adventure and we cannot predict every disaster, in the scheme of things tubes are a safe mode of travel

I've had a similar worry since my 20s (50s now). Your scenario would be one of my worst fears. So I sympathise!

Ask your GP to refer you for CBT (or go private if you can afford it) because it's important to nip this in the bud.

I've had CBT to help me rationalise my fears. And I always take betablockers with me so that if the worst happens I can take a calming pill to help me cope. I also have apps I listen to when the panic kicks in.

Exposure is the key. Don't start avoiding the tube or your fear will grow. I've forced myself to practise and I travel all over the place now.

I’ve had to walk along the tunnel once after a signal failure, and it was fine. I mean, I wouldn’t describe it as the most fun I’ve ever had, but there was nothing particularly frightening about it, though it was within about 18 months of the 7/7 bombings, so people were slightly on edge. It was also summer, and hot. Staff escorted us. I helped an older man with mobility issues. It was only ten or fifteen minutes to the nearest platform.

Yeah you'd probably still be down there now living in the sewers, blinded by the daylight and surviving only on rats.

No but now I am 😐

Not the tube but for at k on a train for three hours just outside a station in snow, a woman peed on the floor, it was awful (not blaming her!). We eventually got out and walked down the tracks to the station. I refuse to travel now when there is 'inclement' weather. This was in London.

Carrying a torch seems extreme - can’t you just use the one on your phone? I’d consider having some therapy because this sounds like it’s really affecting you.

If you just use the District, Circle and Metropolitan lines and not the deep level tubes that might help. They are just below the surface and often you can see daylight through overhead grids.

This

I already don't like lifts.. 😬

They walk you down the tunnel
It's inconvenient but fine.

I got stuck for an hour between Charing Cross and Leicester Square many years ago. The train shuddered to a halt and the lights went out. Communication was very poor. I was very scared. I've been stuck for shorter periods of time since and the exposure was never any better. Now, unless absolutely necessary I avoid it.

I have lived in London for 30 years and have bnever been stuck on the tube for more than a few minutes.

Safety procedures on the underground are excellent and in the event of a train getting stuck they will be evaluating how long to wait and leave people on the train vs evacuating people down the track. So in the vast majority of cases the worst case scenario is an uncomfortable wait.

I knew a friend who got stuck underground. They eventually evacuated them and train staff escorted them through the tunnel (I presume with little light!) and they got off at the next station once they'd walked there

I’m the same. Although the tube was my only way to work at one point and I would just get over it. I panic when we stop for just 30 seconds. It’s horrible. I also hate lifts. I avoid them.

This isn’t helping your fear - but my mindset is always knowing that I will get to whereever I need to go in one piece. I say a little prayer and keep myself busy by reading or catching up on messages. Or writing a task list in my notes or something.

I hope it doesn’t happen to you again x

I agree with PP that’s suggested therapy.

I'd be confident that London Underground staff are trained and have a plan for getting us out - as a PP describes.

I would have been really annoyed at a parent allowing her children to scream in such circumstances. You should have been the grown up in that situation. Noise like screaming never helps anyone, and could have caused someone to have a full on panic attack.

My lovely Wilf was on a tube train that stopped at Canary Wharf after the National Television Awards. He was heading for the last train from Victoria and due to his autism he was really panicking. Two WONDERFUL ladies who he didn't know took control of the situation. They took him off the tube and got him to Victoria via another line. I spoke to them several times via videocall enroute. When they got him to Victoria they took him off the tube and into the station where they found the assisted travel staff.. I was so so grateful for their help.

Yep. It lead to me becoming agoraphobic.

I had similar, but no longer standing concerns or anxiety about it. We were underground and also in stinking hot weather. I can't recall if the tannoy was working, but the driver eventually walked through each carriage, asking if anyone needed assistance. I work in healthcare, so told him I was happy to help if needed. I helped a heavily pregnant woman who was starting to panic, but otherwise, we all just sat waiting and sweating.

Eventually, the train moved forward enough that the front was at a station. We all had to walk through each carriage to get out. They handed out bottles of water in the station and there was an ambulance crew there incase. If the train couldn't be moved, I'd assume we would have been escorted along the track. It very was very hot and annoying, but nothing more.

I do now ensure I have a full bottle of water (not just a half) with me and some snacks.

This is so lovely

I meant to add OP, that I can understand it would be scary, especially with young children with you. If you feel the thoughts of it are taking over and preventing you going on a tube again or taking over day to day, please speak to your GP x

I work for the Underground on the stations.

Although we are upgrading as lot of the signals and infrastructure, some parts are still museum pieces and go wrong.

It takes a while to establish what's going on, and to make a plan. But everyone tries to do it as quickly as possible and we are super aware there are anxious customers wondering wtf they are getting of this effing train. The track power is NEVER on when we evacuate a train onto the track. There's usually a ton of people to help. If it's a major incident we call the ambulance service in case. People with extra needs are assisted too, though this may take a bit longer.

I have helped with an incident in an open section of track. I have no experience of doing an evacuation in a tunnel, which is completely different in terms of space and that claustrophobic feeling.

PP, station staff can quickly see if "traction current" is off because the emergency tunnel lights are on!

Thanks @BlackChunkyBoots for your expert post - you show why we can all be confident that London Underground staff are ready, trained, and competent in dealing with power outages such as the OP describes.

No need for panic!

No-one likes to feel they are stuck in a confined space, with no agency to act. But sometimes we have to endure, and it's best to focus on breathing, staying calm & relaxed and chatting to those near by.

Nothing takes your mind off your own discomfort than attending to others.

I was stuck in a tunnel for quite a while once. It was annoying because I was late because of the train being stuck and had no way of telling the people I was meeting but otherwise just boring!

It was initially pitch black and then people started to get their phone screens to light up (back before a lot of phones had built in torches). Luckily the train wasn't too rammed and I had a seat.

After a couple of squeals/gasps when we were plunged into darkness suddenly everyone stayed calm and just waited it out.

Snap!