Covid: London's Metropolitan Line reopens after staff pinged by NHS app

The Piccadilly and District lines were also impacted

A London Underground line has reopened after it was closed on Saturday because too many staff had received isolation alerts via the NHS Covid-19 app.

No services ran on the Metropolitan line as staff had been contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

The Piccadilly and District lines were also affected, but have also reopened.

Transport unions have warned of "dire consequences" in the coming days as staff are contacted through the app.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union general secretary Mick Lynch previously said there would be "a surge in workers pinged with a self-isolation instruction" after England's Covid-19 restrictions are eased on Monday.

The latest figures showed infection rates were rising in all areas of London in the seven days up to 12 July, with Hammersmith and Fulham recording the highest rate of 436 cases per 100,000 people.

'Still waiting'

Transport for London said it was waiting for the government to confirm whether its staff would be part of a trial which allows those who have been pinged by the app to take daily tests rather than self isolate.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak had initially said they were part of that trial when they were contacted by NHS Test and Trace after Health Secretary Sajid Javid tested positive for Covid-19.

They have now announced they will self isolate.

A TfL spokesperson said the current rules on self-isolation "led to vital control room staff being unable to come to work, causing disruption on some Tube lines".

"The government has indicated that we could be part of a trial whereby daily tests would replace the need for self-isolation," he added.

"We are still waiting for formal notification from them that we are part of this trial so that we can brief our trade unions and put this into effect."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said face coverings must be worn on London's transport network after the national restrictions are eased.

The majority of the Tube is now running with minor delays on some lines.

The Waterloo and City line is not running due to a planned closure.