Firm criticised for station delay

Tube maintenance firm Metronet has been accused of poor planning after delays to the re-opening of a station which has been undergoing refurbishment.

Queensway station has been shut for year and was originally due to open again at the beginning of May.

Metronet apologised, blaming the "extremely complex" replacement of two 50-person passenger lifts. London Underground (LU) described the new opening date of 12 June as another in a series of "failures".

LU's Tim O'Toole said: "This is another example of poor planning, management and execution of work by Metronet. They have had a year to complete the modernisation and lift replacement work at Queensway, but have failed to do so on time. TfL [Transport for London] is investing £10bn to improve London's transport now and for the future, with more than half of that in the Tube. To bring passengers with us, they need the confidence that this work can be completed on time and on budget."

The two lifts being replaced were installed in the 1950s, and Metronet said the new versions were the largest bespoke passenger lift installation on the Tube network in the past 50 years.

Andrew Lezala, of Metronet, said: "I have today apologised to London Underground and to passengers for the delay in the re-opening of Queensway station. The century-old station structure now has new life - and I'm confident that the finished product is much improved, brighter, and safer - and that the new lifts will provide many years of reliable service in the future."

SOURCE: BBC