Threat to key Tube lines

Entire sections of the Tube could be shut for months under controversial proposals to carry out multi-billion-pound repair work.

The companies that will undertake the refurbishment believe the best way to get the work done on time and as cheaply as possible is by closing whole lines rather than working on them at night or weekends.

Metronet and Tubelines, the two companies carrying out the £16 billion public-private partnership revamp, say the savings could amount to hundreds of millions of pounds.

The potential reduction in costs could appeal to Mayor Ken Livingstone and Transport for London, who have just taken control of London Underground, after they admitted the congestion charge is making far less money than predicted.

Mr Livingstone had hoped that the traffic control scheme would generate £130 million a year, with profits going to help fund Tube modernisation, but TfL now says the scheme is only making half that amount.

A spokesman for Metronet confirmed: "We think there is some merit in looking at line closures. There could be a benefit in terms of time saved and reduced costs."

Tubelines also signalled its approval, saying: "Closing down the lines could allow us to work quicker. We would be very open to talk to TfL about these ideas."

A TfL spokesman denied there was any immediate plan to bring in shutdowns but added: "If in the future there could be long-term benefits from it we would be prepared to look at it. If it was, the impact on businesses would be assessed before it was agreed."

The proposal to shut down entire lines is also being boosted by a claim that the recent closure of the Central line caused by the Chancery Lane crash did not lead to severe disruption for commuters and businesses.

However, today businesses immediately condemned the idea - saying the longterm closures would lead to bankruptcies and huge financial problems if it was given the go-ahead.

Sally Humphreys, of the Oxford Street Association, said the closure of the Central line had already cost the capital's businesses an estimated £25 million in lost revenue.

She said: "Following the Chancery Lane derailment and Central line closure there was a 15 to 20 per cent drop

in business in just two months. We still haven't recovered from that. People got used to not coming down to the West End for shopping. "Closing down the Tube for a long period of time is another thing that will knock the stuffing out of us. I really wonder what is going on in London at the moment. It smacks of bad planning."

The London Chamber of Commerce also reacted strongly against long-term Underground closures.

A spokesman said: "Businesses in central London are under tremendous pressure as it is. More problems with the transport infrastructure are the last thing we need at a time of economic downturn.

"Lots of problems were created for businesses by the closure of the Central line. There's every danger this could have a similar effect."

A spokeswoman for the Carphone Warehouse, which has its flagship store in Oxford Street, added: "We would urge them not to close the Tube for any extended period. Our customers were extremely affected by the closure of the Central line and we don't want that to happen again."

The controversial idea could be used to speed up major projects including new signalling for the Jubilee and Northern lines.

It is not immediately clear when the shutdowns could take place although industry sources believe they could start in the next few years.

It is hoped the amount of time needed to do the work would be halved. One engineering source said: "Basically, we are talking about short-term pain for long-term gain."