5 Other factors compounded the effect of the storm. Lack of service on the Central or Waterloo & City lines because of safety checks following the Chancery Lane derailment, together with suspension of bus services in North London, also caused by the bad weather, placed additional demand on the network that was in operation. Finally, stations served only by lifts were closed due to a London Fire Brigade strike.
6 Also, some Tube staff were legally required to start later than normal on 31 January having worked late the previous night to try to alleviate the effects of the storm. Other Tube staff could not get to work because of the effect the storm had on the roads.