PPP Meltdown On The Underground As Tube Lines Contract Descends Into Chaos

photo by Paul Mattsson

TUBE UNION RMT today called for PPP contractor Tube Lines to be stripped of their contract with immediate effect and without compensation, and their work brought back under direct public control, as it emerged that their operations on the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee Lines have collapsed into chaos and recrimination.

RMT have no doubt that the poisoned relationship between TfL and Tube Lines has now broken down irretrievably with a sequence of events in the run up to Thursdays decision by the arbiter on the value of the next phase of their contract fuelling the case for the company to be dumped:

• Reports at the weekend that TfL already have contingency plans well in hand to seize back the Tube Lines work;
• Briefings to RMT reps by senior tube managers to expect and be prepared for the ending of the Tube Lines contract;
• A new row over access on the Northern Line for essential engineering works that RMT have warned could compromise the safety of staff and passengers alike;
• A £2 billion gap between TfL and Tube Lines over the value of the next phase of the contract which City analysts have warned could tip Tube Lines into bankruptcy;
• Persistent speculation that the Tube Lines Chief Executive is considering taking the top job at National Express;
• Continuing failures to hit targets on the upgrade of the Jubilee Line, leading to 25 more weekends of closures.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

“Tube Lines should be sacked now, without compensation, before the final death throes of PPP on the underground do further damage to London’s transport system. This chaos management of an essential service for millions of Londoners cannot be allowed to continue."

“RMT has serious concerns about the potential for this shambles to compromise the safety and security of both passengers and staff and that’s why we are demanding urgent and decisive action to bring the Tube Lines work back in house."