Tube row over workers paid 'to do nothing'

Tim O'Toole has accused the maintenance firm of claiming up to an extra £2 billion. Mr O'Toole, an American who ran his own railway company in the States, said Metronet was not in control of its own workforce and this had allowed spending to soar.

"These people are haemorrhaging money and not managing the situation," he said. He condemned Metronet's structure where sub-contractors "are only too happy to show up in the middle of the night, find out they can't do the work and go home again, knowing they are going to get paid".

Metronet, in charge of two thirds of the Tube, including the Circle, District, Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines, has been condemned by Mayor Ken Livingstone and transport commissioner Peter Hendy for not doing the job properly - despite making up to £1 million a week

profit. Its programme to refurbish the stations is years behind schedule and there are daily delays to service.

The consortium has also lodged a claim to "recover" £992 million. Metronet says it is owed the money for work it has carried out over and above that contained in the original contracts.

But this is being challenged by London Underground, which will respond formally to the claim in the next few days.