Closures: Shed some light on the end of the tunnel

Published: 25 February 2010

• TRAVELLERS are so used to London’s overcrowded transport system they may not be able to see what it is really like: It is a third-world system.
Shamefully, it cannot compare to the transport systems in Paris, Berlin or Barcelona. There are even systems in the developing economies that shine by comparison.
Travelling 50 years ago was cheaper, easier and more comfortable. From the 1960s little investment was made.
Now, in a catch-up frenzy, refurbishment schemes appear to have been planned anarchically (see page 7).
To some extent all refurbishment projects bring unavoidable inconvenience and problems in their wake.
But this is not helped by spin and half-truths used by the layers of management to put over these schemes.
Tube stations seem to shut without warning. For more than a year travellers using the Northern line at weekends have been at the mercy of closures at Warren Street or Goodge Street or stations north of Hampstead.
Last weekend the gates at stations from Euston to Golders Green were closed.
Plans for a new look Camden Town tube station were heralded with a great fanfare several years ago. Now, they gather dust. The other weekend the station was closed.
What makes matters worse is that the politicians who are supposed to run Transport for London appear to be mesmerised by the private consortia contracted to repair the lines.
The minutiae of contracts – covering detailed managerial ­know-how of labour costs, costs of material, operational timing, all this appears to be beyond the knowledge of politicians. Yet, tens of millions of pounds from the public kitty go through their hands to cover the cost of contracts.
If a newspaper asks too many questions, down come the blinds on the grounds of “commercial sensitivity”.
An open public inquiry might  get at the truth.
HUNDREDS, perhaps thousands, will take to the streets in support of Whittington Hospital on Saturday (see page 3). Proposals to shut the A&E have slipped out from behind closed doors of NHS officials. So far, the debate has been characterised by rumour and speculation with more questions than straight answers.
Understandably, there is an overwhelming sense that public opinion will be ignored when it comes to the decision-making process. In this democratic void, public protests are required.
Join the demonstration. Make your voice heard.