Boris Johnson demands answers over Jubilee closures
Boris Johnson today demanded an explanation for the continuing delays to the upgrade of the Jubilee line.
The Mayor told bosses at maintenance firm Tube Lines that the hold-ups were "unacceptable" and demanded to know when work would be finished.
In a strongly worded letter, the Mayor told Dean Finch, chief executive of Tube Lines, he wanted an urgent update on progress.
Tube Lines is installing new signalling to increase the Jubilee's daily passenger capacity from 600,000 to 800,000 but the firm has admitted it could be up to a year off target.
The company has conducted two internal reviews but was still unable to give a finish date. It has had 120 weekend closures, despite saying it would originally need 50. Last month it said it would need five or six more but it has now asked for another 28.
In his letter to Mr Finch, Mr Johnson said: "I am writing to seek an urgent report on progress of the Jubilee line upgrade. In September you promised me you could finish the Jubilee line upgrade by the end of the year with just five more closures. However I have since learned that Tube Lines is in discussions with TfL about up to 28 weekend or part-weekend closures next year. What is the actual position?"
The Mayor continued: "The situation is unacceptable. Tube Lines must deliver a credible programme for delivery of a reliable upgrade which includes the true extent of the closure you will be seeking."
Originally the upgrade of the line was due in March with a deadline of the end of this year. For each month that Tube Lines breaches the deadline it will be fined £10million.
Closures of the line have particularly affected the O2 music venue, which is largely served by customers arriving on the Jubilee line.
In a statement, Tube Lines said: "We have been working collaboratively with London Underground for three months to try to get a programme of access agreed to enable us to complete the upgrade. Both Tube Lines and London Underground need these closures -Tube Lines to get the work finished, LU for training their drivers.
"We have tried to take account of LU's requirement to avoid long closures, however shorter periods of access means more actual closures."
