Metronet hits back at critics over extra costs

Tube operator Metronet has hit back at critics who claim it is to blame for a £750m additional spend on the London Underground (LUL).

Graham Pimlott, non-executive chairman of Metronet, said last week: "This is not a fixed-price contract. The issue of additional costs is clearly provided for in the PPP contracts.

"We do not expect to be paid for the earlier mistakes on stations, but we do need to be paid for the economic and efficient work we have done. That is fair."

Pimlott argued that much of the additional spend is a direct result of LUL's increase in the scope of work. He said: "On stations, for example, the scope was never properly defined. We advised LUL that its scoping requirements were unaffordable 18 months ago.

"If the customer asks for extra work to be done, then the customer pays.

"Other contributing factors to additional or unforeseen costs include: bid omissions, events outside our control and changes in standards by LUL."