TUBE REPORT WILL BE NO SURPRISE FOR LONDON'S HARD PRESSED COMMUTERS

12.01.00am GMT Fri 18th Mar 2005

Commenting on the Transport Select Committee report into the PPP deal on the Tube which found that privatisation has not yet led to improved services and that increases in the number of safety incidents had 'potential to become an increase in the number of accidents', Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson and Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Lynne Featherstone said:-

"This report will come as no surprise to all the hard pressed commuters who, day in day out, have to suffer delays, cancellations and higher priced fares. All the evidence, that the London Assembly Transport Committee has received, shows that the deal struck by this Labour Government on the Tube was ill-judged, ill-conceived and poorly implemented. It has led to many Londoners' questioning why the Tube was privatised in the first place.

"Investment in our crumbling transport infrastructure has been welcome, but unless transport users start to see real improvements in the quality of the services, then they will question why they being forced to pay higher fares.

"It is vital that Transport for London and the Tube maintenance companies raise their game to make sure that as much as possible is done to deliver improvements for long suffering commuters on time and on budget."

ENDS

Notes to editor

The House of Commons Transport Select Committee will publish its report later today on the Tube