Tube Troubles

Tony Travers:

"Anyone who thought the collapse of Tube maintenance contractor Metronet last year was an end to the scheme's problems had better think again. Metronet was an indicator of only some of the underlying failures of the PPP. More are about to manifest themselves. That poses real dangers for the future of the Tube - and ministers must now face up to them...

Long-suffering commuters might well wonder where the money is all going. If you hadn't noticed any improvement on your daily Tube journey, that's because there hasn't been any to speak of. The PPP has patently failed to deliver more than a few station improvements in its first five-and-a-half years, despite expenditure of £7-£8 billion. Indeed, the new Mayor would be well-advised to publicise the realistic likely outcomes from the PPP, rather than continuing with his predecessor's over-enthusiastic 'Transforming the Tube' message."

Now read on.