Silence fuels doubts over JLE

Exclusive by Carol Millett



Fears that the £2.6 billion Jubilee Line Extension will miss its latest deadline were fuelled this week by London Underground's refusal to publish the results of a survey by Bechtel, commissioned to double check its claim that the project is running on time.

London Underground insiders told CJ that Bechtel gave an interim presentation to JLE management last week. The full report is expected in two weeks. But LU's refusal to reveal the results of the interim report are being interpreted by industry observers as confirmation that the JLE is about to miss its latest deadline of spring 1999.

"If Bechtel had some good news on the dates I'm sure LU would want us all to know as soon as possible. It is very suspicious," said one contractor.

JLE project director Hugh Docherty did little to allay fears this week, when he said he would find it difficult to accept Bechtel's assessment if it concluded that the project would take another month or two longer to complete.

"This is an amazing attitude to take," said one contractor. "Why spend taxpayers money getting Bechtel in, no doubt at great expense, only to ignore its conclusions? His attitude would suggest that it wasn't his decision to bring them in in the first place. Perhaps Peter Mandelson made that decision."

Docherty is insistent that the project will meet its latest deadline, so long as there are no more major industrial disputes on the project.

But an electrician working on the project told CJ this week: "The way things are going down here there is bound to be another dispute. Relations are dire. The management is a shambles and the men are just about at breaking point. But whether there is a dispute or not, they don't stand a chance of meeting the dates."

Bechtel was commissioned by LU in August this year to give an independent appraisal of whether the project would meet its deadline. It was due to report to LU on September 17.