Fear taints return to normality

Even as London started to get back to work on the Underground yesterday, the city was hit by more station closures.

The Euston train station was evacuated while police investigated a suspicious bag, British Transport police said.

Liverpool St and Charing Cross stations were also closed because of security alerts.

"We are going to get these security alerts all day," said a police spokeswoman. "People are being extra vigilant and understandably very nervy."

As always, the roads were busy yesterday. A car tooted loudly as it swerved to miss a bus, roadsweepers were working and a child ran with a schoolbag as his father waved goodbye.

But despite the regular sights and sounds, things felt different.

Whether it was a gut-sick feeling from the bombs, a fear of what is to come, or a sense of defiance, there is a new mood about London.

About as many people were on the tube as normal despite the fact that many services were suspended. It was the same with the buses.

Occasionally, a police car or ambulance roared past and people turned to look, fearing another bomb.

Inside the tube stations, the words "No service" or "Minor delays" alongside some routes were the only hint of Thursday's disaster.

There was nothing to say the changes had been caused by bomb blasts, words that station staff were not using. The delays were due to "yesterday's events".

In Clapham, a corner of London packed with Australians and New Zealanders, many seem resigned to what has occurred. Most had phoned home or messaged their parents. They were scared but not surprised.

"I called my parents and told them to turn on the news," said Kiwi Shaugn Hennessey, as he made his way to work.

"It all feels a bit surreal," said the 30-year-old.

Margaret Shaw, 27, a New Zealander who has lived in London for five years, said the thought of getting on a bus again terrified her.

"All I can think about is that picture of the back of that double-decker bus and the fact that there were only a couple of chairs left on it.

"I feel okay about the tube but the bus just freaks me out. It seems unusual, the bus, but I guess they wanted people to see the explosion."

One Australian going to work said "it's depressing" but another, Rodger Jackson from Melbourne, said there was no choice but to get on with life.

"It has been a bit mind-blowing but if you start giving in to these blokes they start running your life.

"My day will absolutely not be disrupted. All that happens is I might have more traffic than usual.

"What these people don't seem to realise is that the people in charge will get them. They won't get away with this."

Australian Susan Ross said: "I'm going to Paris today and this is not going to stop me. This was bound to happen. It was inevitable."

British woman Sam Harris agreed. She had jogged from home to the tube station to find out if she would be able to get to work today.

"I live with two people and we are all scared of going on the tube today. It feels like yesterday wasn't enough. There should be more."

She said one of her friends had been told not to go to work because her supervisors believed it was not safe for them to use public transport.

"I'm going to go to work. I think I will take the bus. It seems safer than the tube."

An Englishman who wanted to be known only as Alex was catching the bus. He had initially thought of not going into work, but "life goes on".

- additional reporting Reuters