Jubilee Line maintenance work delay 'could affect Northern Line improvements'

Date: 16/12/2009

Maintenance work on London Underground's Jubilee Line is running five months late and could cause delays to work on the Northern Line, it has been reported.

Tube Lines, which is carrying out the maintenance work, says installation of new tracks and signals on the Jubilee Line will not be complete until May next year at the earliest.

The work was due for completion in December.

Meanwhile, work on the Northern Line is due to start next year, but could be delayed as the same team are likely to be used as for the Jubilee Line project.

Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union called for the contract with Tube Lines to be cancelled and for the work to be brought in house.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow told the BBC: "This chaos management of an essential service for millions of Londoners cannot be allowed to continue."

Tube Lines is owned by Spain's Grupo Ferrovial SA and US-based company Bechtel Corp.

As well as the Jubilee and Northern Lines, the Piccadilly Line is also maintained by Tube Lines.

Transport for London stated the company could face a fine up £10 million for each day the Jubilee Line work completion is delayed.