Bridget condemns Tube maintenance cut backs

10.39.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 24th Aug 2005

Bridget says "When will tube users get the benefit of Labour's failed PPP?"

Liberal Democrat transport campaigner Bridget Fox has raised concerns at the announcement by private Tube firm Metronet that it plans to cut 300 jobs. Metronet maintains the Victoria, Central, Bakerloo, District and Circle lines, including vital routes through Finsbury Park, Highbury & Islington and Kings Cross.

The cuts, which can be made without London Underground's approval, come after Metronet announced pre-tax profits of £50 million - almost £1m a week. TfL's transport bosses have already conceded that performance is not good enough and is less than what was promised from the Public Private Partnership. Private partners like Metronet are earning vast sums of money through the PPP which simply don't match up with the improvements being delivered.

Bridget says, "This is yet another flaw in the Labour Government's unpopular PPP for the tube. This cumbersome and expensive scheme was supposed to outsource risk to the private sector. Instead the private companies are profiteering while hard-pressed commuters have yet to see any benefit. Liberal Democrats want to see any savings to result in more efficient tube maintenance, not bigger profits for Metronet shareholders."