New Metropolitan Line depot at Harrow on the Hill

Meeting:

MQT on 2009-10-14

Session date:

October 14, 2009

Reference:

2009/3036

Question By:

Caroline Pidgeon

Organisation:

Liberal Democrats

Asked Of:

The Mayor

Question

Can you explain why London Underground are opening a new depot at Harrow-on-the-Hill, using a building owned by TFL but leased to another company - which means they are having to leaseback the floors they want to use but already own - with all the costs attendant on bringing the accommodation up to the required standard, when the accommodation for Metropolitan Line managers at Wembley Park was only updated 18 months ago at considerable cost?

Answer

Answer for New Metropolitan Line depot at Harrow on the Hill

Answered By:

The Mayor

Date:

Monday, 19th October 2009

The new facility at Harrow-on-the-Hill London is to support the Sub Surface Railway line upgrade, which brings an increase in the number of drivers needed to operate the Metropolitan line.

London Underground's accommodation at Wembley Park does not have capacity for the additional staff that will be based at Harrow-on-the-Hill. In addition, Harrow-on-the-Hill is better located to allow managers to respond flexibly to incidents on the Metropolitan line and maintain services for customers.

Converting part of 79 College Road was the best option for providing train crew accommodation at Harrow-on-the-Hill. The only alternative would have been to construct an entirely new building, which would have been more expensive and required land that may not have been available.