BONDS WELCOME BUT WHERE IS THE CASH FOR CROSSRAIL?

12.19.22pm GMT Wed 25th Feb 2004

Tubes are performing worse than any time in the last decade

Commenting on the announcement that the Government are set to allow City Hall to borrow without limits but have excluded the Crossrail project in the announcement for extra funds, Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes said:-

"I certainly welcome the Government's belated conversion to bonds and other forms of cash raising powers for London as the Liberal Democrats have been arguing this case for years.

"However, it is a pity that London transport system has to be on the verge of collapse before new ways of investment are announced.

"With both Tubelines and Metronet failing on performance targets and Londoners experiencing the worst Tube service in more than a decade, the Labour Party has been nothing short of complacent in their failure to appreciate the collapse in our transport system.

"Despite this announcement, the biggest transport project in London, Crossrail, still has an uncertain future. Ministers and the Mayor must get on with publishing the report, planning the route and producing a Crossrail service for London."

ENDS