Metronet labourers cost £48 an hour

Metronet has been charging Transport for London £48.10 an hour for labourers working on the underground network.

Figures revealed in the Evening Standard show signal technicians were being charged out as £79.19 an hour – which equates to £144,000 a year.

The charge-out figures were agreed last year when Metronet went into administration and are still in force as the company continues renewal and maintenance work under the control of the administrators.

A TfL spokesman said: “London Underground is working to reduce charge-out rates. We have made some progress.” Only a fraction of the charge-out rates are passed on to the actual workers.

A Metronet spokesman said: “Virtually all of these examples pre-date Metronet’s entry into PPP administration in July 2007. Metronet is now under new management and we are working to improve our delivery.”

A British Transport Police investigation is also underway into contract awards by Metronet.