"MAYOR'S FIGHT OVER METRONET'S COST OVERRUNS IS GAMBLE FOR LONDONERS"- POPE

11.13.29am GMT Wed 7th Feb 2007

Commenting on the Mayor of London's call for Metronet to seek an Extraordinary Review from the PPP Arbiter to rule on whether Metronet's £750m claim for cost overruns is justified, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman on the London Assembly, Geoff Pope said:

"This is a fight over cost overruns. London Underground is gambling on getting a better deal out of the Arbiter than they could get by negotiating with Metronet behind closed doors.

'Londoners had better hope London Underground's management are right. If not, passengers will be picking up the tab through higher fares and reduced services.

'A Review will at least get everything out in the open so we can see who is to blame and who is not. It will certainly involve both sides in high legal costs and may even cause further delays.

'It becomes clearer every day just how poor the public sector is at negotiating complex contracts with giant multinationals and at managing relationships with private companies." ENDS