London mayor "furious" over Northern Line closure plans

Date: 3/2/2010

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has stated he is "furious" about planned line closures on the Northern Line for upgrade work.

He called the planned upgrade programme by contractor Tube Lines "intolerable" and stated the company already has a record of delay and disruption from its work on the Jubilee Line.

"I cannot possibly ask Londoners to put up with this pain unless Tube Lines can convince that every single closure is unavoidable and their overall plan will work," Mr Johnson added.

Tube Lines plans early closures between Stockwell and Morden from July until November 2011.

It is also planning 65 weekend closures during this period.

The company has recently had claims for a further £327 million from Transport for London rejected by an independent adjudicator.

It was deemed London Underground had no responsibility for cost increases arising from delays to the Jubilee and Northern Line upgrades.