Jubilee Line closures infuriate traders
West Hampstead shopkeepers are furious that Jubilee Line weekend closures are set to continue until next summer. Blunders by Transport for London (TfL) and upgrade contractors Tube Lines mean residents, passengers and traders face another six months of di
West Hampstead shopkeepers are furious that Jubilee Line weekend closures are set to continue until next summer.
Blunders by Transport for London (TfL) and upgrade contractors Tube Lines mean residents, passengers and traders face another six months of disruption while work is completed over 10 extra weekends.
The announcement was released in a Tube Lines report on Tuesday after months of argument between the firm and TfL.
Jitendra Thakorlal, of West Hampstead Small Traders Association, said: "It is so frustrating for all the traders. I am not even hopeful they will finish it in six months."
The line is already part-closing every weekend until Christmas. It will then shut between Christmas Day and December 28. Other weekends scheduled so far for the 2010 closures include January 2-3 and four days at Easter.
Hampstead and Kilburn's Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Ed Fordham said: "It is beyond a joke. There is a bitter blame game going on and I do not trust TfL any more because it is not being honest with people."
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An independent report commissioned by Tube Lines found there was a "low level of trust" between the company and London Underground.
It said Tube Lines asked for 118 line closures and was granted 113 -but 52 were either for less time than requested or for work on a shorter section of the line.
A Tube Lines spokeswoman said that the upgrade was currently the most complex being undertaken on the tube network and it would continue to work with TfL to reach agreement.
A TfL spokeswoman said: "We completely reject any suggestion that Tube Lines has not had enough access to upgrade the Jubilee Line. We will try to minimise the impact on London of the further weekend closures which Tube Lines will need.
