Lib Dems accuse Tube PPP of failing

The Liberal Democrats have attacked the Tube’s PPP contract claiming that the deal is failing.

Citing documents presented to London mayor Ken Livingstone’s transport body Transport for London (TfL), the party said the late running of station and track renewals works were causing knock-on effects across the network and was letting Londoners down.

The Lib Dems claim that eight stations that were meant to be modernised by private sector consortiums Metronet and TubeLines by April this year are running on average 15 weeks late.

Lib Dem assembly transport spokeswoman Lynne Featherstone said Livingstone should "act now to prevent commuters suffering even more".

"The responsibility of maintaining the infrastructure of the Tube should be brought back in-house and run by TfL," she said. "The Tube maintenance firms are failing miserably to deliver on the pledged improvements to the Underground.

The latest criticism  follows Monday’s announcement by Metronet that it is to make around 95 voluntary redundancies among permanent staff following an internal review of its business.