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Tube passengers have been held up by delays caused by faulty brakes more than 8,000 times in the past 10 years, new figures show.

Issues with London Underground train's stopping mechanisms have caused disruption for thousands, with services having to be halted or taken out of service when problems arise.

The revelations are the findings of a Transport for London Freedom of Information request obtained by Buzzfeed.

It said 8,177 journeys had been delayed due to "irregularities" or defects with train brakes since 2005. Complete failures to stop are extremely rare as London Underground trains have double-braking systems.

Metropolitan, Northern, Central and Bakerloo line passengers suffered the most delays in the period, which each tallying more than 1,000 hold-ups.

Passengers on the Victoria and Jubilee lines - two of the most recently upgraded routes - experienced disruption about half as often.

A TfL spokeswoman said: “Delays on our network are at their lowest-ever level and we are continuously working to drive delays down even further.

"We are carrying out a huge programme of modernisation with stations, trains, track and signalling being upgraded to enable faster and more reliable journeys for London’s rapidly growing population.

“New trains have been introduced on the Circle, District, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines in recent years and the New Tube for London programme will deliver new trains for the Bakerloo, Central, Piccadilly and Waterloo and City lines.

"These new trains will help us to deliver more frequent services as well as boosting reliability.”

London Underground trains have double-braking systems, meaning complete failures to stop are extremely rare.