Chair’s briefing – this is my weekly meeting with Transport Scrutiny officers at the Assembly to plan work program, discuss content of sessions, etc.

Tim O’Toole (TfL’s Director of London Underground – sharp American lawyer) has agreed a date to come to Transport Committee to update us on the tube situation. And there’s quite a list to update – three disasters, poor performance and why Central Line trains may have to go! (My interpretation of what’s happening – nothing they will admit to).

That having been said, I like Tim. He is one smart cookie.

We share a life experience that few do.

A little known incident last year is that I fell down the gap at Embankment tube on the Northern Line. I had always wondered if I could really scream. That day I found out I could. I had been running for a tube train and leapt on board – only to have the doors shut on me. When they reopened I stepped back off the train into the gap. My papers fell into the train, the passengers standing in the doorway space looked horrified, my bag fell on the platform – and I fell down the gap.

My whole life didn’t pass before me – but I did think quickly and made sure that I threw my arms across the doorway so the doors couldn’t close. If the train had moved out I would have been a goner. The guard hauled me out in a flash. (There is one stationed by that gap permanently) and sat me down, gave me water, took my details, etc. Then I went home. Much bruised and battered – but fine.

In telling Tim about this incident he confided in me that a similar thing had happened to him in Chicago. It was an outside train sitting in the station on an icy winter day. The platform was extremely icy and he slipped and slid over the edge of the platform, just by a set of the trains wheels. Half his torso was thus on the platform and the other hanging over the edge. The whistle blew and the train was just moving off when passengers walking by on the platform dragged him clear.

Stays with you a bit – an experience like that.