Northern Line Chaos

2.41.29pm GMT Wed 26th Oct 2005

Lynne Featherstone MP, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, has tabled a parliamentary motion calling for the Government to act over the chaos on the Northern Line. The motion calls for Gordon Brown to meet Ken Livingstone to find a way for tube maintenance contracts to be brought back in house.

Commenting Lynne Featherstone MP said:

"Local people have been let down time and time again by these private maintenance contracts. The shambles on the Northern line is just the latest in a series of delays that have occurred since Gordon Brown forced to underground to contract out its maintenance.

"Its time for the Chancellor and the government to take responsibility for the situation and meet with Ken Livingstone to see how maintenance contracts can be brought back in house.

"Labour's policies have let down local public transport users over and over again. Hornsey & Wood Green residents deserve proper compensation and to know that something is being done to tackle these problems."

The parliamentary motion has received the support of 28 Members of Parliament to date including neighbouring MPs Rudi Vis, Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn.

ENDS

Full text of Early Day Motion below:

NORTHERN LINE DELAYS

This House notes with concern the ongoing delays and disruption on the Northern Line culminating with a complete shutdown of services; further notes that since the PPP contracts came into force, delays caused by track, signal and train faults have increased by 30%; is concerned by the complexity of the PFI and PPP contracts that have led to a lengthy procedure that has prevented the problems getting fixed before Northern Line passengers had to experience the whole line getting shut down; notes Transport for London's Customer Charter which should allow commuters to receive a refund on their lost travel; and calls upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Mayor of London to undertake an urgent meeting to discuss how the PPP contracts could be brought back in house without extra costs to London's taxpayers so that track, train and signal maintenance can be done by Transport for London.