'Tube fares to rise by 45%'

Tube fares could soar over the next three to five years, the head of the Underground's largest union has warned.

RMT chief Bob Crow said an increase of up to 45 per cent would be needed to help pay for repairs to the infrastructure. This would be on top of the 25 per cent fare rises announced by Ken Livingstone, which come into force in January.

Mr Crow told the TUC conference that the Mayor would be forced to increase fares because of the huge amount of refurbishment needed on the Tube system.

He said maintenance and renewal costs had risen by 48 per cent on mainline rail over the last three years and warned the same situation could face the Tube.

Before he took control of the Tube this year, the Mayor admitted there was no accurate asset register of the Tube and in many areas conditions were unknown.

Transport for London, the Mayor's authority, said: "We have announced the revised fares for 2004. The Mayor has said he does not intend to raise fares above the rate of inflation for the next four years."

But Mr Crow, who is on the TfL board of directors, said Mr Livingstone would not be able to keep to that promise. "Quite clearly" the Mayor had not been given all the information about the Tube's condition.