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Another Tube Strike - thankfully a minor one on The Drain

The Waterloo and City Line (known locally as The Drain) which connects The City at Bank Station and Waterloo Station will be on strike next Tuesday and Wednesday, starting on Monday evening and running until Wednesday evening.

It is unlikely that tourists would be greatly impacted by this because alternate routes using other Lines which can run around the outage will be available, but those alternate routes will be busier as all the Drain passengers are displaced.

There is a chance that nonunion workers could be brought in to break the strike, or perhaps the strike will progress.

Watch for bulletins.

Posted by
1265 posts

Ok, I'll bite. Why is it called "The Drain" ?

Posted by
32431 posts

Joel,

The Drain is the only London Underground line to be completely underground. When train carriages are removed or replaced they have to be craned in and out through a hole.

The actual derivation of the nickname is lost to the mists of time.

I rather like the version put forward by one of my colleagues:

One theory is that this arose when the line was operated by train crew
in a link that otherwise operated normal surface suburban routes. In
comparison with working surface railways, the Waterloo & City consists
of underground tube tunnels. Messroom conversation would include
discussion of what turn a driver would be working tomorrow, and if it
was a Waterloo & City turn of duty, it was an obvious metaphor to say
that the driver was working "down the drain". Another theory is that
it was given this name by the maintenance staff, because the tunnels,
being under the river Thames, leak considerably allowing much water to
enter. This water has to be continually pumped out. This water gives
rise to a musty smell which provides a third theory for the name.

If you need translation help, ask.

After the name caught on with train crew it was only a matter of time before it was picked up by the traveling commuter public.