Good ol ebay! Tube firm turns to eBay for train parts


The Guardian

Engineers are scouring eBay in search of vital components to keep signals and information boards working on the London underground, it emerged yesterday.

Tube Lines, the consortium responsible for maintenance of three tube lines, admitted it turns to the virtual market place to search for parts no longer in production.

The consortium defended its policy, claiming it was being forced to "think laterally" to source components needed to keep the creaking system operating.

Seems pretty fair really, but I wonder what parts they're buying and if it wouldn't work out cheaper in the long run to get them made to original spec.