Metronet contractors face cuts as TfL slashes costs

Contractors working for London Underground’s Metronet Rail division could be shown the door under Transport for London’s drive to slash its costs by £2.4bn over the next ten years.

Transport for London (TfL) confirmed this week that contractors, agency staff and consultants employed by Metronet are in the firing line. However TfL insisted Metronet’s major upgrade work to the Tube will not be reduced under its efficiency programme.

A TfL spokeman told CJ: “We need to find £2.4bn in efficiencies across the TfL business to 2018 and we have made it clear that will involve some reduction in head counts and in our reliance on contractors and consultants. We will also be seeking to do as much work as we can using TfL employees.”

A Metronet source confirmed that cuts were on the cards. The source said: “We have been told site staff should be safe, it’s offices where the roles have been duplicated within TfL, contractors and agency staff who will be released and secondees will be sent back starting in the New Year. Everyone is very flat.”

An RMT spokesman said the union was monitoring the situation.

Metronet Rail was taken in house by TfL last year after the Metronet consortium awarded the PPP contract to upgrade the Tube went bust.