Tube upgrade 'saved by public takeover'

Boris Johnson has announced “significant progress” on the £13bn Tube upgrade after the work was taken into public ownership.

The London mayor said much-needed upgrade work on the Jubilee line will be complete by the spring, thanks to Transport for London’s (TfL) takeover of contractor Tube Lines for £310m last June.

TfL is installing a new automatic signalling system which will provide extra capacity on the network.

The upgrade was due to be completed in 2009 but was crippled by delays after disputes broke out over line access.

Johnson said: “Work has been progressing swiftly since TfL took control of Tube Lines and we can now see real milestones being reached, including the long awaited completion of this crucial upgrade in just a few months time.

“This is good news for the many thousands of passengers who rely on the line, and clearly demonstrates how our hands on approach to the upgrades is making real improvements.”