Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions

Byers - proposed tube contract changes will strengthen public sector role and put safety first
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date 4 Sep 2001 00:00
source Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions
type Press release

Proposed changes to the contracts for maintaining and upgrading the Tube will strengthen the role of the public sector and put safety first, Transport Secretary Stephen Byers said today.

Negotiations between London Underground and the companies bidding to repair and renew the Tube''s infrastructure will now continue on the basis of a revised draft contract published today by London Underground.

The proposed changes incorporate a number of modifications. The key changes would:

* allow London Underground to appoint a Partnership Director to the board of each infrastructure company

* London Underground would have approval rights over the companies'' work plans

* London Underground will have step in rights to ensure all work complies with health and safety requirements

* London Underground will have open book access

* London Underground will have the power to impose new standards

Welcoming the changes, Stephen Byers said:

''These proposed changes are important because they demonstrate in the clearest terms that safety will not be compromised and that the tube is not to be privatised or part privatised because it will be the private sector working under contract and answerable to the publicly owned London Underground.

''I hope that these proposed changes will go some way to showing the travelling public in London that it is their interests that are being put first.

''The Tube modernisation programme will see urgently needed, guaranteed investment of #13 billion during the first 15 years. Tube users want no more delays - it is time to get the Tube modernisation plans moving as quickly as possible.''

Key changes include:

* London Underground will have approval rights over the three infrastructure companies'' work plans. The companies will have to meet key milestones for upgrading the system, with failure to meet a milestone constituting contractual breach in specified circumstances.

* Streamlining and enhancement of the control provisions giving London Underground ''step-in'' rights. London Underground will be able to direct the infrastructure companies to take action on health and safety grounds even if the company is not in breach of its obligations, and the company will have to act immediately. This means that action can be taken before a breach occurs and safety is put at risk.

* London Underground will have open book access to infrastructure company information to allow it to monitor that maintenance is being carried out to London Underground''s standards.

* London Underground will be able to appoint a ''Partnership Director'' to the Board of each infrastructure company. The Partnership Director will help ensure the Board functions effectively and transparently, and will promote proper co- ordination of the infrastructure company''s systems so as to improve service to customers.

* London Underground will have the power to impose new standards across a wide range of areas including, critically, safety.

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 3000 DTLR website: http://www.dtlr.gov.uk

Railhub Archive ::: 2001-09-04 DTR-001