1 Force majeure circumstances include war, terrorism, fire, tunnel collapse, and extraordinary storm. In these cases, the Infraco gets relief from performance abatements if (1) the event was beyond its control; and (2) it took all reasonable steps to avoid or mitigate the consequences of the action.
2 On 30 January 2003, the Tube experienced its first force majeure event since the start of the PPPs. There was a downfall of snow in North London which resulted in the stalling of 18 trains on the Jubilee Line, 9 trains on the Northern Line, 5 trains on the Piccadilly line, and 3 trains on the Metropolitan Line. These lines and the Bakerloo line were closed partially as a result (see boxed text).
3 The conditions were such that drivers were unable to see signals, thus creating significant concerns about passenger and driver safety on parts of the lines where trains were not stalling. Several hundred thousand passengers were severely delayed in, or abandoned their journeys across London between 30 and 31 January 2003.
4 The event was classed as an "extraordinary storm" because of the combined factors of high quantum and speed of snowfall, strong winds, temperatures around freezing, and high humidity. The Meteorological Office concluded that the conditions in north west London - where passengers were most severely affected - were the most severe in 53 years.