Tube driver appears in court after 'drinking vodka during shift'
A Tube driver has appeared in court accused of driving a train while intoxicated.
Ian Comfort, 50, allegedly drove a Jubilee line train while "unfit through drink or drugs".
He faces two charges of "working on the railway whilst unfit to carry out that work through drink or drugs" and committing an "unlawful act, driving a train, while unfit through drink or drugs while endangering the safety of someone being conveyed in or on that railway".
According to The Sun, he allegedly got drunk during a shift and carried on working when he should have taken a break.
He also failed to stop at a station and would not allow supervisors on board, the court heard.
The driver, who also instructs other staff, smelled of alcohol when he was met off a train and was found with a near-empty bottle of vodka in his bag, the court in Hendon, North London heard.
A Transport for London spokesman told the Daily Mail: "A train operator was relieved from duty after concerns were raised about his conduct.
"The train operator was subsequently taken into custody by British Transport Police. The member of staff is suspended while investigations by ourselves and the BTP are continuing."
Comfort was released on bail until 28 April when he will appear at Harrow Crown Court for a preliminary hearing.
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