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Mayor wins total control of Tube firm Metronet
Dick Murray, Transport Editor06.11.07
Ken Livingstone will take direct control of a huge section of the Tube following the collapse of maintenance firm Metronet.
Tim O'Toole, London Underground managing director, confirmed today that Transport for London, the Mayor's authority, was the "only bidder" to take over. "We are now working with the Administrator to transfer the Metronet companies to TfL's control in early 2008."
TfL will be responsible for maintaining and upgrading the Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith and City lines, along with the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria deep level routes early next year.
The deal is a huge victory for Mr Livingstone who had long campaigned against the part-privatisation of the Tube, including two failed High Court challenges, and will provide a major boost for his Mayoral election campaign.
It is also embarrassing for Gordon Brown who, as Chancellor, was chief architect in hiving off large sections of the Tube to the private sector on 30-year leases against substantial opposition.
Two weeks ago it was revealed that Andrew Lezala, chief executive of Metronet, which went bust in July, was one of five to go in a top-level cull.
He will walk away with more than £500,000. Other former directors will receive huge severance payments.
Metronet, currently in administration and being run by TfL as " caretaker", recorded debts of £2billion after massive overspending on maintenance and improvement projects.
Financial details of the changeover were not released and have not yet been completed.
Metronet's two divisions, one controlling the sub-surface and the other the deep level lines, will be transferred to TfL on a "standalone" basis while a long-term structure is agreed between the Mayor and Government.
Reader views (12)
I worked for London Underground, then for Infraco BCV before it became Metronet and I'll still be working there, whatever it will be called, when TfL take over. Same people doing the same job (except for senior management). Not sure how we're going to do anything differently so don't expect a massive improvement! The stations will still need to be upgraded, the track will still need to be replaced, new trains will still need to be tested so there will still be lots of disruption. TfL taking over is not the universal panacea that many people think.
- Craig, Pinner, Middlesex
Delighted by this. Ken Livingstone is the only politician I have ever seen talk knowledgably and practically about public transport, and actually deliver real improvements. London's public transport has been run down year on year since the 1950's, so he can hardly be expected to complete major improvements within two terms of office. KLs role is more about direction-setting and on this he's been hugely effective.
If that clown Johnson gets elected, forget ever seeing any improvements to your train, tube, bus journey - the man seems only to moan about bendy buses which, whatever you think of them, I'm afraid are necessary.
- Ian Bartlett, Chesham, UK
This cannot be good. He is good at stunts for South American dictators but here in London he is only recognised for his union strike skills!
- Billy, London
Why?
- Howie, London NW1
Oh oh... How is that going to improve now?
- Chantel, London
Well done London.
At least you have someone who runs a good frequent transport service.
I just wish we had a Ken to get our infrequent (if at all weekends) expensive private transport services up to the London standard.
- Gerry Abrahams, Chatham, Kent, UK
Yeah "the highest standards of Transport of London": everyone over the world comes here to learn about public transport! What a joke. How can Red Ken ever manage anything?
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
This is a victory for both the Mayor and the LUL workers transferred to Metronet against their wishes in 2003. Perhaps now we will be able to shake off the poor Metronet image and return to maintenance at the highest standards under TfL!
- Paul, London
Those who criticise London's transport system are probably those who use it the least. As someone who uses the buses and tubes every day, I can tell you there has been a vast improvement in services over the last five years. Sadly the same cannot be said for London's commuter rail services - which are in private sector hands!
- Sean Mark, London
Great news. As someone who has witnessed the phenomenal transformation of the London bus system under Ken's stewardship I am very happy that TfL are going to try and rescue the Tube refurb.
Let's just hope that the damage done by Metronet is not irreversible... and that there is still enough money spare to perform the work that is needed.
- Dan, London
Why for goodness sake? Red Ken has made the transport situation worse with strikes, bad service and "winning the Olympic games"! He is not capable of leading major projects as we have seen in the past.
- Billy, London
This is very scary. And I thought London Transport could not get worse!
- James, London
