0:00:01 > 0:00:05- RADIO:- The A13 westbound is moving slowly between Marsh Way...
0:00:07 > 0:00:08Hold on tight!
0:00:08 > 0:00:10London is full up.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12HORNS BLARE
0:00:12 > 0:00:16Are you going to allow them to jump on the back of your bus?
0:00:16 > 0:00:19I'm afraid I won't be able to take more passengers.
0:00:19 > 0:00:24Thanks to a million more people arriving in the last ten years,
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Transport For London now has more than 30,000 workers
0:00:28 > 0:00:30battling day and night...
0:00:30 > 0:00:32MAN WHISTLES
0:00:32 > 0:00:33Wake up!
0:00:33 > 0:00:36..to stop the city grinding to a halt.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38- Three people been shot up there. - War! It's war.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41All right, I'll get the police and ambulance straight down there.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45In the first week I was here, I thought, "What have I done?"
0:00:45 > 0:00:49With unique access to the nerve centre of the capital's transport system,
0:00:49 > 0:00:53this is the inside story of the people who keep London moving.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54You're not only a bus driver,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57you become a psychotherapist and psychiatrist.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Yeah, the people that like to talk to you.
0:00:59 > 0:01:00Some of them even flirt with you.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02I said, "Mate, sit down quietly.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04"We're not going to hell, we're going to Ilford.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09It's the lifeblood of London. Well, the buses are red, aren't they?
0:01:09 > 0:01:11HE LAUGHS
0:01:11 > 0:01:13There's my certificate, look. I'm a bus driver.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Thank you very much. You are so nice.
0:01:18 > 0:01:19Don't worry. No problem at all.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23London's changed a lot. But yeah, I love it. It's London.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34This programme contains some strong language
0:01:41 > 0:01:44- RADIO:- The A13 westbound is moving slowly between Marsh Way
0:01:44 > 0:01:47and the Ripple Road junction because of an earlier accident.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49On the M4, there's a lane blocked westbound
0:01:49 > 0:01:52because of a multi-vehicle accident between junctions 6 and 7.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54The A2, New Cross Road, is closed.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58Just madness, absolute madness.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05It's now taken us - what? - five or six minutes to go about 200 yards.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Grow a beard in this traffic, wouldn't you?
0:02:11 > 0:02:15In the last ten years, the number of journeys on London's roads
0:02:15 > 0:02:18has increased by more than 20%...
0:02:18 > 0:02:19HORN BLARES
0:02:19 > 0:02:23..whilst the amount of actual road space remains virtually the same.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27They're just pushing more and more traffic into less and less space
0:02:27 > 0:02:28and it doesn't work.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31This city relies on the movement of its people.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35London cabbie Howard Taylor
0:02:35 > 0:02:39has been doing battle with rush hour congestion for 25 years.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42All of these trucks that are delivering during the day,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44the streets were never built for this.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47The houses weren't built for the parking outside.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49There's not enough parking spaces in London.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51There's not enough road space in London
0:02:51 > 0:02:53and more and more people flood in.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Anyone who drives through London has got to be off their rocker.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59They really have.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Something has to give. Otherwise, London will grind to a standstill.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11I'm afraid I won't be able to take more passengers.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13I will need to close the door.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Another 55 will be here within a few moments. I'm sorry.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20(She's not happy. Oops.)
0:03:26 > 0:03:30In Holborn, the number 55 is also struggling through the rush hour traffic.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Traffic lights, they're endless.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37They last for ever.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42The passenger can get frustrated.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44I get frustrated.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47HORN BLARES
0:03:47 > 0:03:48Everybody wants to push,
0:03:48 > 0:03:53so now I need to be Italian!
0:03:53 > 0:03:57I need to be a little bit Italian and shout, "Get out of my way."
0:03:58 > 0:04:02In London, the roads are very narrow, especially in the city
0:04:02 > 0:04:07which is Roman, so there was just enough for a chariot
0:04:07 > 0:04:10and maybe two chariots
0:04:10 > 0:04:13but definitely it wasn't designed for a large vehicle
0:04:13 > 0:04:17or for the combustion of the 2010.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Congestion has been a problem on the capital's streets
0:04:21 > 0:04:24ever since the first motor vehicle joined horses and carriages
0:04:24 > 0:04:26fighting for space in the 1890s.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Throughout the 20th century, new roads were built
0:04:32 > 0:04:34and existing ones widened where possible
0:04:34 > 0:04:39to try and accommodate the ever-increasing number of vehicles.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42But with only a finite amount of space available,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46there's only been one major new road built in London since 1989.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52RADIO: 'Shoreditch High Street, there was a lane blocked southbound
0:04:52 > 0:04:55'on Great Eastern Street after a van broke down.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58'Also in Stamford Hill at the Stamford Hill-Amhurst Park junction...'
0:04:58 > 0:05:01The average speed of rush hour traffic in London today
0:05:01 > 0:05:03is just nine miles an hour,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05virtually the same as in 1890.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16In the east of the city, the latest EU diktat on tunnel safety
0:05:16 > 0:05:18has meant a strictly enforced width restriction
0:05:18 > 0:05:20at the Rotherhithe Tunnel.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22You won't get through there, friend.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25At six foot six, you will not get through there now.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29You've got Tower Bridge, right, or Blackwall Tunnel, OK?
0:05:29 > 0:05:32No, you don't. You're too big. No.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Move.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36It's causing chaos for miles around.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Look at the traffic. It's crazy.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44I'm trying to get to work and it's just outrageous.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49It's caused untold problems and delays in traffic.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Obviously a non-driver who's designed this. It's ridiculous.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Though it might not always be apparent on the ground...
0:06:01 > 0:06:04He's hit that, look. Ooh.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07..London's traffic is actually amongst the most monitored,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10controlled and carefully managed in the world.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15This is the approaches to that width restriction, going all the way up.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Anything up to 60-minute delays or possibly more.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Just had an incident at Queens Road in Peckham.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Someone's fallen underneath a train.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31They're closing the road so the helicopter can land.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35That's going to cause quite a few problems around there.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39On a road network, people just assume it's an uncontrolled space
0:06:39 > 0:06:41and they don't have an appreciation
0:06:41 > 0:06:45that, actually, it takes an awful lot of effort from an awful lot of people
0:06:45 > 0:06:47to keep it moving on a daily basis.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49And if that effort didn't go in,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52you would be looking at gridlock situations across the city.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Ten years ago,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57with a prospect of total gridlock looking ever more likely,
0:06:57 > 0:07:03Transport for London invested £30 million in a state-of-the-art traffic control centre.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07We have some of the most advanced traffic signal systems in the world.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08I think our systems, you know,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11make something like a quarter of a million decisions every hour
0:07:11 > 0:07:15to alter the phasing of signals on a second-by-second basis.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17We have image recognition equipment
0:07:17 > 0:07:20that allows our cameras to detect when traffic stops moving.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22The key to it is to find out about it quickly
0:07:22 > 0:07:25to get people on site quickly, because we know when things go wrong,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28if we don't act, that's when we get significant problems.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38The most crucial mile of road in the entire London road network
0:07:38 > 0:07:40is here - the Blackwall Tunnel.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47Opened in 1897, it was a radical solution to growing congestion
0:07:47 > 0:07:49on the bridges across the River Thames.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54In the 1960s, to try and meet growing demand,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57a second tunnel was added to carry the southbound traffic.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03But over 100 years after it was originally built for horses and carriages,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07the Victorian tunnel is still the main way to cross the Thames
0:08:07 > 0:08:09for traffic heading into north London
0:08:09 > 0:08:11from all over the south-east of England.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22We're down at the tunnel bore now. You can hear the traffic.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24MUFFLED ROAR
0:08:24 > 0:08:30And here we go, so we'll slide it back through.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36And there we go - 50,000 vehicles a day.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42And look at some of these big boys that go past.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Transport for London is responsible
0:08:47 > 0:08:50for trying to keep all 13 London road tunnels running smoothly.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Here we are in the southbound tunnel,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56two metres away from the live traffic
0:08:56 > 0:09:02and you can understand why it is the most important mile in London.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06If there was a crash or a broken-down or an incident here,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09traffic cannot bypass it. It stops.
0:09:09 > 0:09:15On the south side, within 45 minutes we're actually stopping the M25
0:09:15 > 0:09:18and because there's very few alternatives
0:09:18 > 0:09:21and traffic generally is gridlocked, they're stuck.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25They have to wait until we deal with the incident.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27It's even more personal for me
0:09:27 > 0:09:32because I only live about five miles away from the tunnel
0:09:32 > 0:09:34so most times when I'm coming for meetings
0:09:34 > 0:09:37or coming up, like, just to do work here,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41I can be and I often do sit in my own traffic jams
0:09:41 > 0:09:44which is very frustrating and very annoying.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50With the ramifications of any delay at the Blackwall Tunnel
0:09:50 > 0:09:53being felt so quickly across all of London,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55it has its own on-site control room
0:09:55 > 0:09:59with a team of staff watching over the traffic around the clock.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Oh, we've got one. He's gone on through.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05He's gone down to the tunnel.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Idiot. I'll open up this one.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Never intended to accommodate 21st-century juggernauts,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14there's a strict height restriction
0:10:14 > 0:10:16well signposted on all approaches to the tunnel.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Good afternoon. This is the Blackwall Tunnel control room.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26This message is for the driver of the Trotter white lorry.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30- THROUGH TANNOY:- Your vehicle is too tall to enter the Blackwall Tunnel.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32You need to reverse and go left
0:10:32 > 0:10:35onto the over-height ramp and pick up the telephone.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39What nationality is that? Romanian.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43- Romanian, yeah.- So I stand no chance of speaking to him.
0:10:43 > 0:10:44I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Until the driver of the white artic gets the idea
0:10:48 > 0:10:52that he has to reverse, I will not be able to reopen the tunnel.
0:10:54 > 0:10:55That's helpful.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59There's someone going to have a word with the driver.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Thank you very much to the gentlemen who helped with repositioning that lorry.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Once you're back in your vehicles, we will reopen the tunnel.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11SIREN WHOOPS
0:11:11 > 0:11:14To try and keep London's traffic moving,
0:11:14 > 0:11:19Transport for London fund a 350-strong Roads Policing Unit.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22- Hello, driver.- Hi.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28I'm young driver. It's too difficult for me.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30OK, let me explain what's happened.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Just let me explain, just let me explain, OK?
0:11:32 > 0:11:37- The reason why they forced you through this way, yes?- Yes.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41- The vehicle is too tall. - Too tall?- More than four metres.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46I have two GPS. One say left, the second one right.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51- I'm crazy. Help me, please.- I'll tell you what.- I drive after you.- GPS...
0:11:51 > 0:11:57I never go here to London. I be around away always.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00It's catastrophe.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02And I want to go to Bedford.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Why are you trying to go through central London for Bedford?
0:12:05 > 0:12:08- GPS said.- GPS - throw it away.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11- Oh, my God. - No good, throw it away. Get a map.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15- All right? So keep going here all the way round.- Is this my road?
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- M25.- M25, OK.- Good man.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Thank you very much. You are so nice.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Don't worry, no problem at all. Jump in.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33That's one very confused lorry driver trying to get to, er, Bedford
0:12:33 > 0:12:36who's now going to go the M25 and the M1.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38If you can raise the barrier,
0:12:38 > 0:12:40hopefully you won't see him again today.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43'All received. Thank you very much. Raise the barrier.'
0:12:43 > 0:12:45ALARM BEEPS
0:12:49 > 0:12:51I suppose it was closed for about five minutes in total
0:12:51 > 0:12:56and in that time we got a tailback of approximately two miles
0:12:56 > 0:12:58which will probably take half an hour to clear.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01So we've got all this traffic
0:13:01 > 0:13:03and then further up...
0:13:05 > 0:13:09..there's all this traffic and it goes back beyond that.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15I would not want to be sitting in this traffic every day.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18It would drive me nuts.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22I take my hat off to these people who sit in this traffic
0:13:22 > 0:13:25every single day, day in, day out and don't go crazy.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28They've got more patience than I've got.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30But that's London, isn't it?
0:13:30 > 0:13:33You know, these people have to get in, they have to get to work,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36they have to go to the businesses
0:13:36 > 0:13:38and this is as good as it gets.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40HORNS BLARE
0:13:40 > 0:13:43So we're about a mile and a quarter or so from the tunnel,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46so we've got another, I'd guess, 15 minutes at least
0:13:46 > 0:13:50of sitting in traffic until we get to the tunnel.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Travel agent Dennis Walmark has been subjecting himself
0:13:53 > 0:13:56to the misery of the Blackwall Tunnel commute for over 40 years.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01I started driving through the Blackwall Tunnel in 1971
0:14:01 > 0:14:03when I passed my driving test.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07I decided at that time I didn't like British Rail or London Transport
0:14:07 > 0:14:10and as I tell my friends, I got a divorce from them
0:14:10 > 0:14:14and the traffic over the years has got progressively worse.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16When I first used to drive to the tunnel,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20you'd have probably got caught up in about half a mile of traffic or so.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Now it's regularly two miles or longer
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and it can take you up to an hour just to get those two miles.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29It does make you angry, it does make you frustrated
0:14:29 > 0:14:32and, erm, as I say, sometimes you get to the office
0:14:32 > 0:14:36and you feel like you've done a day's work just struggling across.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Something's just happened ahead of us.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43They've just switched on the signs to close lane three
0:14:43 > 0:14:46and they're showing 50 mile an hour speeds in lanes one and two.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49We'd be lucky doing five miles an hour
0:14:49 > 0:14:53so I guess in lane three there's now a broken-down vehicle.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Just to inform you, we've got a broken-down,
0:14:55 > 0:14:57camera 424 heading northbound.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02Broken-down vehicles are the most common cause of delays
0:15:02 > 0:15:03at the Blackwall Tunnel.
0:15:03 > 0:15:04Let's go.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11To minimise delays for motorists,
0:15:11 > 0:15:15Transport for London provides a round-the-clock recovery service.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- RADIO:- Along the Blackwall Tunnel, approaches still queuing northbound
0:15:22 > 0:15:26from just after the Woolwich Road flyover towards the tunnel entrance.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29You all right? A paramedic? You OK?
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Yeah, I'm OK. I felt so light-headed for a minute there.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Just be me and you through the tunnel, yeah? OK?
0:15:37 > 0:15:43It's a medical, this one. She's got a panic attack going into the tunnel,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46so we're going to drive through under closed conditions
0:15:46 > 0:15:48once we're all clear.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52She's eight months pregnant, so she's a little bit funny.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59Shaun Carter, a Blackwall recovery truck driver for 11 years,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02leads the way through the tunnel.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05We get a couple of them a month where they see the tunnel
0:16:05 > 0:16:08and they panic, they're scared of driving in the tunnel.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Being that she's eight months pregnant,
0:16:10 > 0:16:13we was a bit concerned with her, so we've shut the tunnel.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16We're in a sterile condition. There's only the two of us in here now.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20The majority of them won't be able to see there was a vehicle stopped there.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22All they'll know is that there's severe congestion,
0:16:22 > 0:16:25they're caught in it and it's delayed their journey
0:16:25 > 0:16:28by 10, 20 minutes, maybe half an hour in some cases.
0:16:29 > 0:16:35David, I'm taking her through the Bus - No Entry.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Need to get her off the road.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40But as long as you're OK, yeah?
0:16:40 > 0:16:44They've asked us do you need any more... Do you need assistance
0:16:44 > 0:16:47- like medical or anything like that? - I just felt so light-headed.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49Take your belt off and just have five minutes.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Have a breather for five minutes.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56Thank God he came because obviously I couldn't turn around at that point
0:16:56 > 0:17:01so yeah, I'm quite heavily pregnant, wasn't feeling too well
0:17:01 > 0:17:02and they was very helpful.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07I don't know what to say. Thank you so much!
0:17:09 > 0:17:13With that job there, you get all the first lot of people at the barrier
0:17:13 > 0:17:16and once the barrier closes in front of them,
0:17:16 > 0:17:20they don't understand what's going on so you get everyone on their horns.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23It's like the culture now of London to use your horns.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Nothing you can do, you know, the barrier's got to be shut
0:17:25 > 0:17:29but that's the culture we're in, everyone's on the hurry-up at the moment.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35And there's quite a few breakdowns, more so when the fuel went up.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Everyone was running out of fuel and it just causes chaos
0:17:38 > 0:17:42but we're just hanging about waiting for it, waiting for it all to happen.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Just got to wait for the phone to ring now. Let's hope it don't
0:17:47 > 0:17:49and we can drink loads of tea.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Shaun and a colleague each spend six months of their year living on site
0:17:56 > 0:17:58directly above the tunnel.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03In-between jobs - that's if we get time, that is -
0:18:03 > 0:18:05we do a bit of cooking.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Pancakes are on the menu today.
0:18:12 > 0:18:13I'm self-contained, me.
0:18:13 > 0:18:19Got to be, ain't you? Modern man and all that. Yeah.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21These pancakes are going to be the nuts
0:18:21 > 0:18:25and I'm going to go and relax in the Portakabin.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Colour TV.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29And chill out till the next job.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Whilst on duty, Shaun's home is this Portakabin.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Just over the wall, that's where the tunnel is
0:18:43 > 0:18:46so you can hear straightaway if there's an accident.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49You can hear, like, the breaking of glass, screeching of tyres
0:18:49 > 0:18:50so straightaway, you know.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54You might be getting a little bit of shut-eye sitting on the chaise longue
0:18:54 > 0:18:57and then you hear all the pandemonium kick off.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's, er...
0:19:01 > 0:19:03You know, you sort of get used to it.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16HORNS BLARE
0:19:19 > 0:19:23- RADIO:- BBC London 94.9. Let's get the latest travel news now.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28Unusual delays beginning to build. All sorts of problems. Long queues.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32The North Circular and the A40 a bit slow on all approaches.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36It's Friday evening rush hour
0:19:36 > 0:19:39and half a million extra people
0:19:39 > 0:19:41have joined the nightly fight to leave London.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44HORN BLARES
0:19:44 > 0:19:51CAD1398, which is the broken-down HGV on the A4,
0:19:51 > 0:19:53is there any news on recovery yet?
0:19:54 > 0:19:58In Transport for London central traffic control centre,
0:19:58 > 0:20:02staff monitor 5,000 cameras and must troubleshoot incidents
0:20:02 > 0:20:05across the entire 9,000 miles of the London road network.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09- What's this?- Er, hold on, hold on.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14In North London, there's an unexpected backlog of traffic
0:20:14 > 0:20:17in the Archway area, and plumes of black smoke can be seen.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22From what we could see, it does appear to be a car.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Whether he's just filled up, I don't know
0:20:24 > 0:20:28cos there's quite a lot of flames going on in the area
0:20:28 > 0:20:31and that's ended up blocking both north and southbound carriageways.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Due to the size of the fire, it might take quite a while
0:20:34 > 0:20:35for it to actually cool down as well
0:20:35 > 0:20:38so we're looking at a closure for at least an hour or so.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- RADIO DISPATCHER: - 'An eastbound closure
0:20:41 > 0:20:46'to prevent any traffic coming onto the A406 eastbound from Hall Lane.'
0:20:46 > 0:20:508821. Send it to the box.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53SIREN WAILS
0:20:53 > 0:20:56In a bid to minimise congestion, the control room
0:20:56 > 0:20:59immediately dispatches officers from the Roads Policing Unit
0:20:59 > 0:21:02to divert traffic away from the scene of the fire.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06This is going to be it.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Basically, we're going to put some cones out now
0:21:15 > 0:21:18so we can get this traffic here moved over earlier
0:21:18 > 0:21:22so that not everyone's stacking up trying to get up to the Archway Road.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25Fella, road's closed.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29- How far up?- All the way up.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32All up to the next main junction.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34It's Friday afternoon, everyone was going home.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37At the moment, no-one's going anywhere
0:21:37 > 0:21:39and everyone's being forced back round the one-way system
0:21:39 > 0:21:42to find another way round. With the amount of traffic you get,
0:21:42 > 0:21:44if you close one road, there is a knock-on effect.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47It will affect another place, then it starts to affect somewhere else
0:21:47 > 0:21:50and all of a sudden it goes in a great big circle somewhere in London
0:21:50 > 0:21:53and it just gridlocks, literally comes to a standstill.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56The normal diversion route, if there's an accident along there,
0:21:56 > 0:21:59is to divert them sort of along here.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00For every new incident,
0:22:00 > 0:22:04shift manager Chris Huckstep must devise a bespoke diversion
0:22:04 > 0:22:07to try and route traffic around the problem.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10You know, the best bet might be
0:22:10 > 0:22:13take the closure back to the one-way system
0:22:13 > 0:22:15and send them up, send them down Junction Road
0:22:15 > 0:22:17or send them down St John's Way.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20A lot of cities across the world run on grid systems
0:22:20 > 0:22:23so things are very easy for them.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27If there's a big accident somewhere, you can just open up another grid
0:22:27 > 0:22:29and push the traffic along in that direction
0:22:29 > 0:22:33and all the roads are pretty much, they look pretty much the same.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36London, on the other hand, is a bit mad.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39It's over 1,000 years of sort of roads that have been built
0:22:39 > 0:22:42ever since the Roman roads were originally built.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46So you've got winding passageways where you can barely get a bus down
0:22:46 > 0:22:49that is only one-way just for one lane of traffic.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53And then you've got massive sort of four or five-lane carriageways
0:22:53 > 0:22:56running almost next to it sometimes.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59It doesn't really make sense half the time.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02With a traffic diversion in place,
0:23:02 > 0:23:06the next job is to deal with what's left of the burnt-out car.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Trying to think, if I can drag it further back,
0:23:10 > 0:23:14we'll get it away from that junction. Does it steer?
0:23:14 > 0:23:16Erm, I think there's a steering wheel in it.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I was just driving back from paintballing with my two ten...
0:23:19 > 0:23:22well, my ten-year-old son and his ten-year-old friend.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25My car started to lose power, then I saw a flame come out the back.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28So I just stopped, obviously got the kids out of the car and ran.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33Then I heard a big firework display going on, so yeah, outrageous.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37These look like our contractors have literally just turned up as we speak
0:23:37 > 0:23:40just to have a look at the road surface, and from that,
0:23:40 > 0:23:44we'll get a lot more of an understanding of what needs to be done.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51In order to be able to respond the moment a problem occurs,
0:23:51 > 0:23:55Transport for London has teams of emergency response road workers
0:23:55 > 0:23:57on stand-by 24 hours a day.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01It's actually damaged some of the tarmac, the fire,
0:24:01 > 0:24:04so it could be a resurface job for this little bit of road here.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09So it could be a fair old time that this road will be dug up, resurfaced
0:24:09 > 0:24:12and then there'll be more commotion and more congestion caused by it.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19Traffic is quite busy, as you can see. I do feel for them.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22People looking, "Why don't you move it out of the way?"
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Well, we would. If we could pick it up and put it in our pocket
0:24:25 > 0:24:26and take it away, we would, but we can't.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28The average person will slow down
0:24:28 > 0:24:30and think, "That could be me sitting beside the road."
0:24:30 > 0:24:32Other people just, "Get out my way,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35"It's Friday, I'm going home, I don't care who you are."
0:24:44 > 0:24:46What the hell's going on there? Is this that...?
0:24:46 > 0:24:49- It's just... The motorbike? - Six-car RTC, is it?
0:24:49 > 0:24:50Which one? The one on the red bridge?
0:24:50 > 0:24:53We're probably going to have to go severe on that Kenning Hall.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56It's back to Mill House. It's back to Ilford.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01The burning car has delayed thousands of people by well over an hour,
0:25:01 > 0:25:05but it's just one tiny issue of many across the capital.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07That's still the bloody tailback from that.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10That's worse than it was before, to be honest.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13We're in the middle of rush hour
0:25:13 > 0:25:17and I've got accidents left, right and centre all over London,
0:25:17 > 0:25:19so it's slowly grinding to a halt.
0:25:19 > 0:25:24The A4 right by the Natural History Museum, we have a house on fire.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26A woman's been hit by a bus on Seven Sisters Road.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28About half a mile south of there,
0:25:28 > 0:25:30we had another accident about an hour ago.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32There, someone was hit on a motorcycle.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35That's just a few of the things going on.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Probably at this range, actually.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40There's another camera.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Ever since I started work here,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45I'm very careful even about crossing the road.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47You don't think about it. You just think, "All right,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49"there's a green man there, I can cross the road now."
0:25:49 > 0:25:51But I look three times before I go across a road.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54You don't want to be underneath that bus or what have you
0:25:54 > 0:25:56if somebody just jumped a red light.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58The number of horrific accidents we see, it's just...
0:25:58 > 0:26:00it's kind of put me off a bit.
0:26:07 > 0:26:08At the Blackwall Tunnel,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11it's not just vehicles that are causing them problems.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16The male pedestrian in the southbound tunnel,
0:26:16 > 0:26:18turn round and go back now.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Failure to do so, police will be called
0:26:22 > 0:26:25and you'll be dealt with accordingly. Turn round now, please,
0:26:25 > 0:26:29and make your way back out the tunnel, where you can get the bus.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34On the weekend, drunk pedestrians looking for a shortcut home
0:26:34 > 0:26:36are a regular sight.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Most of the time, the public are very helpful
0:26:38 > 0:26:42and behave just like you or I would do, yet there's always one or two.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50He must have had a really good night. He didn't know which way was up.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Eventually the police came along and just dragged him off immediately.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59There was one occasion when we spotted a cyclist in the tunnel.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03He was complaining that he wanted the AA to come out and sort out his bike.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07I think he noticed that one of the CCTV cameras was moving on its mount
0:27:07 > 0:27:10and following him, and that got him really wild.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22There's always one or two people who just seem to have slight problems.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28It's not really frustrating for us cos it's part of our job. In fact,
0:27:28 > 0:27:30if anything, it's light relief
0:27:30 > 0:27:35watching people behave like sort of...idiots at times.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38But it must be very frustrating for motorists trying to get home.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Once a month, the northbound Victorian tunnel must be closed
0:27:50 > 0:27:52for essential maintenance.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56003FT and Brunswick slips closed.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00To minimise disruption, the maintenance team do their work
0:28:00 > 0:28:03in the early hours of Sunday morning.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05Contractors, the tunnel is now closed.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08You're clear to enter the tunnel.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13I'll put them up on stage two. That'll clear it.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15We can get it clean, tidy
0:28:15 > 0:28:17and nice for the public to go in.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Check all the fans, check all the gullies, check all the sump pumps,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23clean the light fittings - 101 jobs to do.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27It's stood the test of time. It's a good old tunnel
0:28:27 > 0:28:31and we've all got a love and affection for it. We look after it.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36The original design concept was for 1,000 horse and carts a day
0:28:36 > 0:28:38and the lighting level is such
0:28:38 > 0:28:41that a gentleman can read his copy of The Times mid-river.
0:28:42 > 0:28:47Victorian workmen dug the 800-metre-long tunnel by hand.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49It took them five years to complete
0:28:49 > 0:28:52and cost £1.4 million
0:28:52 > 0:28:54and seven workmen's lives.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59It takes some of the region of between 50 and 60,000 vehicles
0:28:59 > 0:29:03a day now, so Victorians didn't get it all wrong, did they?
0:29:06 > 0:29:08Danny, I was wondering if you could do me a favour, please?
0:29:08 > 0:29:11I've got the guys here cleaning up the tar by shaft three.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16One of the key challenges the maintenance face each closure
0:29:16 > 0:29:19is the ongoing battle against tar.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22This is quite a big problem. It's just ingress from the earth
0:29:22 > 0:29:27so it just comes from...well, from the tunnel itself, from the ground.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30It's always present, and it's...
0:29:30 > 0:29:34We have got a situation with the tar that we're trying to manage.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38Tar, originally from a nearby gasworks
0:29:38 > 0:29:41that was bombed during the Blitz,
0:29:41 > 0:29:42has been leaching in at joins
0:29:42 > 0:29:46between the lengths of cast-iron pipe used by Victorian engineers
0:29:46 > 0:29:48to support the roof of the tunnel.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54If we left this for six months, it'd just be...
0:29:54 > 0:29:57probably wouldn't even be able to get this out the gully.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Sometimes it'll get a bit tough.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08What you having for tea tonight then?
0:30:08 > 0:30:11- Beans, they're in there.- Beans.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14Back above ground, Shaun's treating girlfriend Jacky
0:30:14 > 0:30:16to a night at the Blackwall Tunnel.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20I met her at Butlins Disco Inferno a few years ago.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Yeah, nice, she comes up and sees us weekends.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29We go down the cafe together, highlight of the day!
0:30:29 > 0:30:33- You know how to treat a girl, hey? - Yeah, know how to treat a girl, yeah.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36I live in the New Forest where it's nice and quiet,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39so this is a big difference.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43Yeah, you do notice the noise. Takes a bit of getting used to.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47Keep turning the telly up cos you can't hear anything.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51We just painted the Portakabin cos one of the fellas who was here before liked to smoke
0:30:51 > 0:30:54and it was a bit yellow.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56One after the other - chuff, chuff.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00- Mushroom.- Like a mushroom colour, yeah, mushroom.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03Yeah, with the artwork, it looks nice.
0:31:03 > 0:31:08That was found on a skip that, and we cleaned it up.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12It can be hard, I mean we've had blokes... Like, girlfriends, wives
0:31:12 > 0:31:17obviously they don't want you working away as such.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19It's a job, ain't it? I've been doing it for ten years.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22Yeah, it's OK.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27Beneath the River Thames, Ken and the maintenance team are nearly done.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31We like it down here, it's peaceful. There's no vehicles, it's lovely.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35Just go through and you can have a look, see where all the sweepers
0:31:35 > 0:31:37have been through, swept it all up and cleared it all up.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39All the walls have been washed,
0:31:39 > 0:31:42look, all nice and clean, all ready for the public.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46And then you come to this little spot here
0:31:46 > 0:31:49and you're halfway through the tunnel.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51It's about... It's roughly midway,
0:31:51 > 0:31:54but you're in the centre of the Thames here,
0:31:54 > 0:31:59cos you can see by your red panels, so directly above you is water.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04It's about six foot of clay above the top of the tunnel here.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07But it's continually monitored so we keep a check on it.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10'OK, everyone near the flood barrier,
0:32:10 > 0:32:12'be aware we're about to lower the gate, over.'
0:32:12 > 0:32:15WARNING SIRENS BLARE
0:32:15 > 0:32:20Despite Ken's confidence in the integrity of the Victorian structure,
0:32:20 > 0:32:23in 1999, metal floodgates were installed.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28This is the floodgate, in case the tunnel's ever breached.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31This gate stops, obviously, the Thames flooding
0:32:31 > 0:32:34the surrounding areas. It just actually holds it either end.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36And what's going to breach the tunnel?
0:32:36 > 0:32:38Who knows? People say an explosion,
0:32:38 > 0:32:41but probably old age or something from the river
0:32:41 > 0:32:44but the odds of that happening is very, very unlikely.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47It's just a precaution, a back-up measure.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53We don't actually seal anybody in.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56If the tunnel does get flooded and the barriers are brought down,
0:32:56 > 0:32:58people can still escape out.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01If you can swim this far, you can climb up the ladder and get out.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05You haven't got much chance, have you, if you get stuck inside?
0:33:05 > 0:33:09It's breached the tunnel by the river and now you've drowned.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11HE CHUCKLES
0:33:13 > 0:33:16Yeah, can you lift the gate up for us now, please, thank you.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18WARNING SIRENS BLARE
0:33:19 > 0:33:21Get the cones out.
0:33:22 > 0:33:26It's 15 minutes before the tunnel's scheduled opening time
0:33:26 > 0:33:29and vehicles are already queuing to get in.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31'They're all clear on the south side.'
0:33:31 > 0:33:34Received, thanks a lot, Stuart.
0:33:34 > 0:33:3707:46, northbound open.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48It's 7.50am Wednesday morning.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50'This is BBC London, 94.9,
0:33:50 > 0:33:54'time for London's travel news now, with Paul Murphy.'
0:33:54 > 0:33:57'Notting Hill Gate closed eastbound for repairs to a burst water main,
0:33:57 > 0:34:00'queues on the approach and a couple of bus routes diverted in that area.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03'Also, the Limehouse Link Tunnel, one lane is blocked eastbound
0:34:03 > 0:34:06'after a car broke down. I'll have more at quarter to.'
0:34:06 > 0:34:12In central London, the morning rush hour is in full swing.
0:34:12 > 0:34:13CRASHING
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Oh, mate, your car's on fire, get out of the car.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18CROWDS SCREAM
0:34:18 > 0:34:20Get out of the car, man, your car's on fire!
0:34:22 > 0:34:26The busy commuter hub of Vauxhall is plunged into chaos.
0:34:30 > 0:34:35A bus driver calls into the traffic control centre from the scene.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38What has happened? What has happened, over?
0:34:51 > 0:34:54OK, going to get them along there as soon as possible, over.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56SIRENS WAIL
0:35:00 > 0:35:03Unbelievable, man. Unbelievable, man.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08We're getting reports that a helicopter has crashed
0:35:08 > 0:35:13in the Vauxhall area of London, close to the River Thames.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16London Fire Brigade says it's received a number of calls.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19Fire fighters are en route.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23Look at that. Part of the helicopter. Mate, that's nuts.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Nuts, mate, that's something surreal out of a movie, man.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29Unbelievable, man.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Unbelievable, man.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37The number is 02036506.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40Apparently the helicopter exploded
0:35:40 > 0:35:44and then the fuel from that spread out and set on fire.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48It's pretty... It's terrible really, it's not good.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52The helicopter has come down at a critical junction,
0:35:52 > 0:35:55where six of the busiest commuter routes in South London meet.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57And Transport For London's first priority
0:35:57 > 0:36:00is to divert traffic away from the area.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Obviously you've got strong plans up at Edgware Road
0:36:02 > 0:36:05and everything. They must be on, yeah?
0:36:05 > 0:36:08- The gating plans? - Yeah, the gating plans.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10I hope they're on, they must be.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13- It's not, is it?- No.- Fucking hell.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17This is unprecedented for London.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19We haven't had anything like this for a very, very long time.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22Erm, the police have declared it as a major incident.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25We've got a closure here as well and there must be one here.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29The road closed there, that is to restrict traffic going into Vauxhall.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31It's quite a big crash site.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33Obviously you've got bits of debris everywhere.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36I think they'll be treating each individual location as a crime scene.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38The ramifications for us are
0:36:38 > 0:36:40we're going to have closures for the next week or so, I think.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43SIRENS BLARE
0:36:47 > 0:36:51In Vauxhall, the emergency services are cordoning off the entire area.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56The helicopter's come down in the road down the side.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58It's burst into flames and we have two fatalities at the moment.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01A lot of roads are closed cos we've got the train station closed
0:37:01 > 0:37:04because of structural worries, the tube station closed,
0:37:04 > 0:37:06and not one bus is running through Vauxhall.
0:37:06 > 0:37:07So at the moment, it's absolute chaos.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18Another one of them.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24On Vauxhall Bridge, one of Transport For London's incident response teams
0:37:24 > 0:37:26are busy putting the road closures in place.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29Well, we've closed Vauxhall Bridge.
0:37:29 > 0:37:34We've closed Lambeth, we've closed Kennington,
0:37:34 > 0:37:36we've closed Nine Elms,
0:37:36 > 0:37:41Chelsea, South Lambeth...so far.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43And there's still more to be done.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46You need to get the "buses only".
0:37:46 > 0:37:49And what about "road ahead closed"? I need two of them.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Are you having to make up signs?
0:37:52 > 0:37:54Improvise, yes.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58Improvise, yes, cos it's not a standard sign they want
0:37:58 > 0:38:01so we have to make the best what we can do.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04Two people have died and 13 people injured,
0:38:04 > 0:38:06including one who is critical
0:38:06 > 0:38:10after a helicopter flew into a crane in South London.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13It happened in Vauxhall near to the MI6 building.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16The helicopter, flying very low in foggy conditions,
0:38:16 > 0:38:19hit the crane at the top of St George Wharf Tower
0:38:19 > 0:38:21and eventually crashed on the road below,
0:38:21 > 0:38:23bringing part of the crane down with it.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26The entire area in Vauxhall is cordoned off.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Can we please clear the area.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34The crash has closed down one of the major transport hubs in London.
0:38:34 > 0:38:40During rush hour, tens of thousands of people pass through Vauxhall on public transport
0:38:40 > 0:38:44and thousands of vehicles converge at the Vauxhall Road junction.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48We're fire fighting, this is the development that got struck
0:38:48 > 0:38:50where the crane was struck and where the helicopter came down.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54Normally this is a big gyratory of traffic coming all the way in
0:38:54 > 0:38:57from South London and actually from East London as well.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01They all come in this way and this is the critical point.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04We're using a strategy of actually reducing traffic coming in
0:39:04 > 0:39:07towards these points. We're going a bit further back and just
0:39:07 > 0:39:12giving more red time, less green time, for people coming into town.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15It stacks them up a bit on some of the bigger trunk roads,
0:39:15 > 0:39:18but it's better than coming in to somewhere that's more condensed
0:39:18 > 0:39:21and packed and where they will... The Americans call it gridlock,
0:39:21 > 0:39:25we don't have grids so... but it's the same principle,
0:39:25 > 0:39:28traffic just stops moving because there isn't enough road space.
0:39:28 > 0:39:33TANNOY: 'For bus services towards Brixton, walk towards Stockwell.
0:39:33 > 0:39:37'And for bus services towards Lewisham...'
0:39:37 > 0:39:41Buses on 11 different routes normally use Vauxhall Bus Station.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45All diversions remain in place due to the Vauxhall incident,
0:39:45 > 0:39:47including northbound Vauxhall. Thank you.
0:39:47 > 0:39:52Two hours after the helicopter crashed, the bus management team
0:39:52 > 0:39:54are still trying to deal with the fallout.
0:39:54 > 0:39:55Was that 178?
0:39:55 > 0:39:58We've diverted all our services now.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02The problem we've got with that now is the delay side, the delay factor.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05All around Parliament, Whitehall, all around there, up to 60 minute delays.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08Again coming through from Elephant and Castle,
0:40:08 > 0:40:11coming through from Brixton, Stockwell, Clapham,
0:40:11 > 0:40:13about 60 minute delays.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16This is how tight London is now, you take one area out,
0:40:16 > 0:40:19it completely messes it up for miles and miles.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21It's like having the Blackwall Tunnel closed, you know?
0:40:21 > 0:40:24It's just going to knacker the whole of London.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31We need to make sure that there is something in Waterloo Main Line
0:40:31 > 0:40:35to let them know in advance so they don't turn up here
0:40:35 > 0:40:37thinking they're going to walk down Wandsworth Road.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40Alan Dell is in charge at Vauxhall Bus Station.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44Thanks very much, Laura. Cheers, bye-bye, bye-bye.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48The most important thing now is to get the transport system
0:40:48 > 0:40:50up and running and back to normal as quickly as possible.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54We haven't had buses running a normal service
0:40:54 > 0:40:56since about eight o'clock this morning.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00People rely on the bus service on this side of London.
0:41:00 > 0:41:05Tube connections aren't brilliant over here
0:41:05 > 0:41:07so it's really important to get the buses running.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10What sort of timescale are you looking at?
0:41:10 > 0:41:15Well, this probably won't open here for, erm....
0:41:15 > 0:41:17I'd say until this evening.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20So if we sort of plan for the evening peak.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22If we say get it open for the evening peak to get
0:41:22 > 0:41:25- north and south London through. - Yeah, that's what would be my plan.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Yeah, that works well.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33I think we will need to take that back to the Oval
0:41:33 > 0:41:36for Harleyford Road going towards...
0:41:36 > 0:41:39Yeah, where that closure is there, that'll need to remain I think.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43In the traffic control centre, Chris must now devise a plan
0:41:43 > 0:41:46to help reduce congestion before the evening rush hour hits.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51Want to keep this movement out, we could get pretty much a free run
0:41:51 > 0:41:54going that way which would keep Vauxhall...
0:41:54 > 0:41:56keep that free route running.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59'When we first heard about the incident, a lot of closures were put in.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01'We didn't, nobody really knew what was happening.'
0:42:01 > 0:42:05At that point we're not looking at managing traffic congestion,
0:42:05 > 0:42:06just keeping people safe.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09Now we know exactly what's going on on the scene,
0:42:09 > 0:42:11we know where the closures need to be.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15When I was interviewed for the job,
0:42:15 > 0:42:17they gave me a scenario which I had to sit and...
0:42:17 > 0:42:22The scenario was a plane crash not far from that location,
0:42:22 > 0:42:26so it's one of the training scenarios that we do use.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29So although we never thought it would ever happen,
0:42:29 > 0:42:32it's, erm, you know, we knew roughly what we would have to do.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36Are we able to move the permanent closure right up Nine Elms Road?
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Yes, it is just literally a dozen cones and some road closures.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50- Hectic.- Just slightly.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55Southbound Vauxhall Bridge has been reopened at this point in time.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59Three routes going back to line of route, southbound only,
0:42:59 > 0:43:04That's going to be route 36, 185, 436.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07Nice one. As soon as we get some movement in the bus station,
0:43:07 > 0:43:09we'll give you a call back. Much obliged.
0:43:09 > 0:43:15Now the Transport For London team are reopening some of the roads in the area,
0:43:15 > 0:43:18a few key bus routes can start running through Vauxhall again.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Once you close this movement off,
0:43:23 > 0:43:26which is what we want them to do, close that off,
0:43:26 > 0:43:29everyone will be forced to come, that's there basically.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33But as the evening traffic builds, the road closure plan must
0:43:33 > 0:43:37constantly evolve to deal with new traffic backlogs as they occur.
0:43:40 > 0:43:42One more.
0:43:43 > 0:43:47Every change on a map in the traffic control centre
0:43:47 > 0:43:51means more work for Ian Bailey and his team on the streets of Vauxhall.
0:43:52 > 0:43:56Tonight is basically going to be opening it, closing it,
0:43:56 > 0:43:58putting it this way that.
0:43:58 > 0:44:01By the end of the night, we should have it perfectly running.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04So tomorrow it'll be, come rush hour, it should run lovely.
0:44:07 > 0:44:09- Hey, it's road closed. - INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:44:09 > 0:44:12Yeah, but it's still road closed, doesn't matter.
0:44:12 > 0:44:14Mate, he wants you.
0:44:14 > 0:44:16You can't go through a road that is closed.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19- Where are you going? - Thank you very much, sir.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22MAN SHOUTS
0:44:22 > 0:44:24Angry commuters!
0:44:24 > 0:44:28"I'm going through. I don't care." Simple as.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31There's a big sign saying "road closed".
0:44:31 > 0:44:34"I don't care I've got to go there, so I'm going through."
0:44:38 > 0:44:41We've been doing this since eight this morning
0:44:41 > 0:44:43and we ain't even had a chance...
0:44:43 > 0:44:46We've had a chance for a cup of tea but that's about it,
0:44:46 > 0:44:49a quick cup of tea but nothing else,
0:44:49 > 0:44:54no dinner, no lunch, no breakfast.
0:44:54 > 0:44:57There's no-one else to cover us, so we've got to do it.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00You've just got to put your head down and just get on with it.
0:45:00 > 0:45:06As Transport For London do their best to limit the inconvenience to road users,
0:45:06 > 0:45:08on the streets immediately around the crash site,
0:45:08 > 0:45:11the investigation into what went wrong has only just begun.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35One, two, three, four, five...
0:45:35 > 0:45:37Five...
0:45:37 > 0:45:39It's 7:00am
0:45:39 > 0:45:42and in Blackheath, south east London,
0:45:42 > 0:45:45the battle to keep London moving continues...
0:45:48 > 0:45:50..whatever the weather.
0:45:53 > 0:45:56HE LAUGHS Got me!
0:45:56 > 0:46:00See, he did that on purpose! Completely soaked me.
0:46:04 > 0:46:10Transport For London have designated 360 miles of the capital's roads as red routes
0:46:10 > 0:46:14and employ full-time inspectors to patrol these key thoroughfares,
0:46:14 > 0:46:17on the lookout for anything that could add to delays.
0:46:19 > 0:46:22You do have to be able to walk fast because you've got to walk
0:46:22 > 0:46:27eight kilometres a day and there's other people reliant
0:46:27 > 0:46:30on you getting your job done so that they can get their job done.
0:46:34 > 0:46:36Another pothole.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42Yeah, I'm on Shooters Hill Road again. It's another pothole, mate.
0:46:44 > 0:46:46Yes, mate, yep.
0:46:46 > 0:46:48Cheers, mate. Bye-bye.
0:46:48 > 0:46:51In an ideal world, there would be enough money
0:46:51 > 0:46:54to resurface roads every year, but that simply isn't the case.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56We just have to tackle 'em as best as we can.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59Within the next 24 hours, one of our response teams
0:46:59 > 0:47:01will come and make that job safe.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04So we move on.
0:47:07 > 0:47:08Right, what road is it?
0:47:08 > 0:47:10MUFFLED VOICE ON PHONE
0:47:10 > 0:47:13Ah, nice. All right then, mate.
0:47:13 > 0:47:14All right, bye.
0:47:14 > 0:47:19Toby Melville and Indra Gurung are the incident response team
0:47:19 > 0:47:22working Alan Easton's south east London beat.
0:47:23 > 0:47:27Indra used to be a Ghurkha so he's quite a tough mind, you know?
0:47:27 > 0:47:31He likes to get things done. So it's quite hard to tell him...
0:47:31 > 0:47:34When you want things done, you have to speak to him very nicely.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36I was a soldier.
0:47:37 > 0:47:39I was in British Army for 20 years.
0:47:41 > 0:47:46Once I retired, come back here to this job.
0:47:46 > 0:47:52I'm more used to being a soldier, but I like this job.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54Why's that?
0:47:54 > 0:47:56HE LAUGHS
0:47:56 > 0:47:59Cos I'm in London.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02Not in the back street of Kathmandu!
0:48:04 > 0:48:08One, two, three, break!
0:48:08 > 0:48:12UK's one of the best places to bring up your children.
0:48:12 > 0:48:18My two children are here with me, my wife is here.
0:48:19 > 0:48:23Lucky I'm employed. HE CHUCKLES
0:48:25 > 0:48:28Every year Transport For London staff carry out
0:48:28 > 0:48:32over 36,000 repairs on the red routes.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35We can do 20, 30 potholes a day.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37Potholes get on my nerves.
0:48:39 > 0:48:42A lot of these roads are built on old, old roads,
0:48:42 > 0:48:44like Roman roads and stuff.
0:48:44 > 0:48:47They're so old, all the time there's something needs doing with a road.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50You know, the amount of traffic that runs over it
0:48:50 > 0:48:53and then with all the weather and the salt and everything else
0:48:53 > 0:48:56that goes on it, it sort of breaks the road up.
0:48:56 > 0:49:00Hopefully, we get things done and people don't even know that we're here,
0:49:00 > 0:49:03so hopefully we're done in literally a couple of minutes.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06And then people come round and noticed that it's been fixed,
0:49:06 > 0:49:08like a little elf or a little something's come out
0:49:08 > 0:49:12in the night or the daytime, and just done it all, like magic.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16Yeah, but this one, nice and easy.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18It's safe now for everybody.
0:49:18 > 0:49:20We'll pack up we'll get out and hopefully
0:49:20 > 0:49:23no-one will know that we're here, that's the plan.
0:49:23 > 0:49:26I have to say, as a cyclist, I could do better than that.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29Yeah, we can whack it again.
0:49:29 > 0:49:32What we do is we come out and we make things safe.
0:49:32 > 0:49:34Well, I'll tell you, if that was your drive and
0:49:34 > 0:49:37you paid someone a large sum of money to come and fix a hole in your drive
0:49:37 > 0:49:41and they said, "OK mate, OK, Guv, that'll be 200 quid,"
0:49:41 > 0:49:43what would you say?
0:49:43 > 0:49:46Well, I'd say that's not a permanent repair
0:49:46 > 0:49:49- and it's not a permanent repair... - Is that what you'd say?
0:49:49 > 0:49:52Well, I understand what you're saying.
0:49:52 > 0:49:53That's rubbish.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56Well, I can see what you're saying, I can see what you're saying.
0:49:56 > 0:49:57We'll give it another whack.
0:49:57 > 0:50:00We'll give it another whack, we'll give it another go.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03Yeah, I mean that's like, you know this isn't very technical, is it?
0:50:03 > 0:50:05This is like icing a cake, you put the base bit on
0:50:05 > 0:50:07and you stamp it down and then put the top bit on
0:50:07 > 0:50:10and then you really, and you're meant to like have it
0:50:10 > 0:50:13- smoothed gently into the road. - Yeah, I understand but...
0:50:13 > 0:50:16It's not a permanent repair, though.
0:50:16 > 0:50:19- It's temporary measures only, ma'am. - It's to make safe.
0:50:26 > 0:50:29Quite often, I do get abuse but I don't care.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31I'm used to it. It's part of my job.
0:50:47 > 0:50:51So I need the contractors to go down to Camberwell New Road.
0:50:52 > 0:50:55What are you doing? Are you closing it off into the Oval and forcing them all up?
0:50:55 > 0:50:56Forcing them all right.
0:50:56 > 0:50:59It's the day after the helicopter crash...
0:50:59 > 0:51:01So northbound Camberwell New Road.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03..and in the traffic control centre
0:51:03 > 0:51:07and on the roads around Vauxhall, its impact is still being felt.
0:51:07 > 0:51:11People are like, "That was yesterday, today's a different day,"
0:51:11 > 0:51:14and they're all trying to get to where they need to go to.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16But this is day two. This is pretty standard stuff
0:51:16 > 0:51:19when you have a big incident like this, just that...
0:51:19 > 0:51:21It's like the hangover if you like.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24It's all really exciting the day that it happens
0:51:24 > 0:51:25and people avoid it.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28Now it's just business as usual, getting the congestion out of the way.
0:51:28 > 0:51:32The crane the helicopter hit has been deemed unsafe.
0:51:32 > 0:51:36Until it's dismantled, the vital Vauxhall gyratory system must remain closed.
0:51:36 > 0:51:40The crane that was struck by the helicopter is massive,
0:51:40 > 0:51:43I've never seen anything actually that big before.
0:51:43 > 0:51:45Normally those cranes assemble themselves.
0:51:45 > 0:51:49Cos they're so big, you use cranes to start assembling them and then it starts building itself
0:51:49 > 0:51:53because it's so big there's nothing else that could build it.
0:51:53 > 0:51:55Because it's damaged, it can't disassemble itself
0:51:55 > 0:51:59so we have to get a crane that is capable of doing that.
0:52:16 > 0:52:21It takes two days to build a new crane big enough to dismantle the old one.
0:52:24 > 0:52:29But by Sunday afternoon it's finally ready to be lifted into place.
0:52:30 > 0:52:32- So is it all done now? - It's all done.
0:52:32 > 0:52:34We're going to be getting lanes four and five back
0:52:34 > 0:52:37- hopefully in the next couple of hours.- Today? Great!
0:52:37 > 0:52:40Yeah, the one way system will then be reopened.
0:52:40 > 0:52:42Cos I live there, you see,
0:52:42 > 0:52:45and I can't get in and out with my car. You can get out,
0:52:45 > 0:52:48but when do you think you'll be able to get in which is there?
0:52:48 > 0:52:52As I say it'll probably be, I don't know, four o'clock this afternoon,
0:52:52 > 0:52:54- something like that. - Great! Thanks very much.
0:52:54 > 0:52:56- Cooking on gas so to speak. - Yeah, thanks very much.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58Although we're all electricity in there!
0:52:58 > 0:53:01There's no gas in there, but thanks very much anyway.
0:53:01 > 0:53:02- All right, OK, bye.- Bye.
0:53:04 > 0:53:07Since Wednesday, the boys have been hard at it.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10They've been working late, trying to keep the public informed,
0:53:10 > 0:53:13keeping the roads moving, then we go home, then you get rung up to come
0:53:13 > 0:53:16- back because we are the boys. - We are the fourth emergency service.
0:53:16 > 0:53:20Yes, the fourth emergency service, keeping London moving.
0:53:23 > 0:53:28Here we go, first vehicles now. Got the one way system reopened
0:53:28 > 0:53:31and this is the first set of vehicles now coming through.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34I think they'll be grateful.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Come Monday morning they'll be able to drive through, won't they?
0:53:37 > 0:53:38Be over the moon.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40We're up against it every day really,
0:53:40 > 0:53:43but we deal with it, it's our job to.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59Hiya. We've just come across a dead fox
0:53:59 > 0:54:01so we're going to need a T-number for this job.
0:54:01 > 0:54:04In south east London, another day brings
0:54:04 > 0:54:06another early start for Toby and Indra.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09I don't think Indra's going to eat this fox,
0:54:09 > 0:54:11probably been there for quite a while, I think.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13What do you reckon, Indra, you going to eat this one?
0:54:13 > 0:54:17HE LAUGHS Not in a million years. I would never eat fox.
0:54:17 > 0:54:19What do you like to eat?
0:54:19 > 0:54:21Number one, deer. Number two, pheasant.
0:54:21 > 0:54:25And number three, wood pigeon. HE CHUCKLES
0:54:27 > 0:54:32Fox is smelly, dirty animal so never eat fox.
0:54:35 > 0:54:39I can live on goat testicles. HE CHUCKLES
0:54:39 > 0:54:41Honestly.
0:54:41 > 0:54:45Ask any Nepalese, any people,
0:54:45 > 0:54:50that's really nice. I've eaten many, many times
0:54:50 > 0:54:53and I can virtually live on goat testicles.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56You most probably say, being an Englishman, disgusting.
0:54:56 > 0:55:00Yeah, I think I'll stick to... I'll stick to English food.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03Ah, you'll stick to your sandwiches!
0:55:03 > 0:55:05I cannot live on sandwiches and potatoes.
0:55:08 > 0:55:11But before they get round to breakfast, Toby and Indra need
0:55:11 > 0:55:14to deal with the results of some recent inclement weather.
0:55:18 > 0:55:19See that lovely flood.
0:55:21 > 0:55:23- Good job I had my Wellington.- Yeah.
0:55:25 > 0:55:29In addition to London's 9,000 miles of road,
0:55:29 > 0:55:31Transport For London are also responsible
0:55:31 > 0:55:35for miles of walkways, footbridges and underpasses.
0:55:35 > 0:55:40We were told that the pump inside, which works automatically,
0:55:40 > 0:55:42is not working, I don't know.
0:55:44 > 0:55:50Despite the flooding, Indra's determination to keep London moving remains undampened.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55For you lot, there's no alternative apart from this.
0:55:55 > 0:55:57You're going beyond the call of duty you are!
0:55:57 > 0:56:00He's really good, you see, look.
0:56:03 > 0:56:05Thanks!
0:56:20 > 0:56:22There we are, mate.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25Thank you very much. Thank you, you're a star.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28I need to get a train really urgently,
0:56:28 > 0:56:31so the man's just helped me right out, so thank you very much.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37- He was very happy carried on my back.- You carried him?
0:56:37 > 0:56:40Yeah, carried on the back because he didn't want his shoes wet
0:56:40 > 0:56:41because he's going to court.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44I don't mind, I don't mind. He was very happy.
0:56:44 > 0:56:46I'm sure they'll say health and safety against that.
0:56:46 > 0:56:50This is where this country gone wrong. Too much human right,
0:56:50 > 0:56:54too much of health and safety - claim culture.
0:56:54 > 0:56:57Indra, you should start charging people a pound a time!
0:57:02 > 0:57:05RADIO: 'The A1 southbound through Borehamwood slowing up Stirling Corner to Apex Corner.
0:57:05 > 0:57:09'Streatham High Road congested northbound from Streatham Common to...'
0:57:09 > 0:57:12Travelling in rush hour is a nightmare, I know it is.
0:57:12 > 0:57:16At certain times of the day we know there's going to be congestion
0:57:16 > 0:57:18and there is every morning.
0:57:18 > 0:57:21But there is a team out there working 24/7, 365 days a year
0:57:21 > 0:57:25making sure that traffic is flowing.
0:57:25 > 0:57:27Lovely, cheers.
0:57:27 > 0:57:30Now, hang on, let's just work out how far you are from the next exit.
0:57:30 > 0:57:35Your vehicle is too tall for the tunnel.
0:57:36 > 0:57:38Everything that can be done is being done.
0:57:38 > 0:57:40We are trying to improve times for, obviously,
0:57:40 > 0:57:43your passengers and yourselves travelling around this diversion.
0:57:44 > 0:57:46If we can do something about it, it's brilliant.
0:57:46 > 0:57:48You start seeing those queues going away.
0:57:48 > 0:57:52I do find that quite rewarding, thinking, "I did that, I fixed that."
0:57:52 > 0:57:54- RADIO:- 'Coming into town through Acton, looking a lot better
0:57:54 > 0:57:57'after a van broke down earlier this morning at Gypsy Corner.
0:57:57 > 0:58:00'The M4 westbound now clear of the multi-vehicle crash...'
0:58:00 > 0:58:02Wow, we're really rolling now!
0:58:02 > 0:58:05We've just moved about 50 yards in about 20 seconds.
0:58:06 > 0:58:09This is like Formula 1.
0:58:09 > 0:58:13Could somebody please give up the chair for this gentleman?
0:58:13 > 0:58:15Somebody just did, that's wonderful.
0:58:17 > 0:58:20London essentially was a prehistoric village.
0:58:20 > 0:58:22Considering the amount of road space we have
0:58:22 > 0:58:25and the amount of vehicles we do deal with every day,
0:58:25 > 0:58:29it's an impossible act really, isn't it? It's like a magic trick.
0:58:30 > 0:58:32I don't know how we do it.
0:58:44 > 0:58:47Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd