Jubilee upgrades not expected until "well into 2010"
Upgrades to the Jubilee line are still being stalled by a row over extra line closures.
Negotiations between Tube Lines and Transport for London are not moving forward, nearly three months after London Mayor Boris Johnson slammed the "unacceptable" progress of work.
While Tube Lines is contracted to deliver improvements by the end of the year, Transport for London has now admitted it is unlikely that they will be completed until "well in 2010".
Delays will be costly for Tube Lines, which stands to face compensation penalties of £10million for every month the work over-runs.
Tube Lines entered into a Public Private Partnership to complete a project which will see 30 trains running per hour, an increase in capacity of 33 per cent.
But it claims it is unable to move the work forward until it can close the line for live tests on the signalling software.
It asked for five closure dates back in August, and was grilled on its progress at City Hall shortly following the Mayor's statement.
A spokesman said: "We need to test the signalling software on the track, so we need to clear specific points on the track at specific times.
"We're still negotiating with London Underground for a closure programme so we can get access to the line. Until we've agreed what access we're going to get, the situation is the same."
Meanwhile, Transport for London will not budge until Tube Lines delivers an independent review of the programme which justifies the extra closures.
A TfL spokeswoman said: "Earlier this year we expressed grave doubts about Tube Lines' ability to deliver the Jubilee line upgrade by the end of 2009.
"We called on Tube Lines to undertake an independent review of their work to provide a realistic assessment of when they can deliver the upgrade. We look to the conclusion of this work soon.
"We cannot approve an additional closure programme until Tube Lines provide a clear and credible programme for the upgrade works.
"Where we can provide extra access without causing significant further disruption to our passengers, we are doing so in the interests of getting this critical work done."
The company added: "Although we don't yet have a firm revised completion date, it is clear, regrettably, that the upgrade will not be delivered until well into 2010."
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The jubilee line is a disgrace. It seldom runs at the weekend. Next year they will increase the fare prices. No idea how they can justify this when they are offering a reduced service.
The DLR will have a reduced service too when they close bank station at Christmas for a month. Again, we are paying for a public transport system which does not exist.