Yesterday I asked, in a somewhat ironic tone, how is it that Metronet managed to get itself into such difficulties.
The answer lies in it's "jobs for the boys" approach to its contracting. More formally known as "tied supply chain", this ensured that Metronet's five shareholders (WS Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Bombardier Transportation, EDF Energy and Thames Water) were guaranteed most of its work maintaining and upgrading the Underground.
A nice little earner for those with their fists in the honey pot. However, rather a poor arrangement for the tax payers and commuters who find themselves holding the shitty end of this rather unpleasant stick.
This arrangement has been criticised regularly by London Underground, Ken Livingstone and Chris Bolt, arbiter of the £30BN Underground public-private partnership.
A prophet seemingly receives no honour in their own country!
I look forward to seeing how the "listening" clunking great fist tries to get himself out this mess.
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