Driverless Tube trains for £ 7bn would be ‘ poor value’

INTRODUCING DRIVERLESS trains across London Underground would cost £ 7bn and would represent “poor value for money”, according to a leaked document.

A presentation said to have been prepared for senior Transport for London ( TfL) managers said the case for driverless Tube trains “is not financially positive given the high capital costs”.

The drivers’ union Aslef, which obtained the leaked document, said it proved the idea is a “politicallydriven fantasy”.

The Prime Minister has spoken in favour of driverless trains as a condition of future funding for TfL.

The document says there would still need to be a train operator on every Tube train.

It says: “Staffing efficiencies are offset by increased maintenance costs of the additional safety systems, surveillance, security fencing etc required.

“Overall the case is not financially positive given the high capital costs.”

The document says that converting the network to driverless operations “represents poor value for money”.

The document, dated August, continues: “Value for money is significantly weakened if driverless conversion is undertaken via a retro- fit of existing trains and infrastructure, due to increased costs, risks and shorter remaining life of key assets.”

Finn Brennan, Aslef’s organiser on London Underground, said the report makes clear there is “no economic case” for the scheme.

A TfL spokesman said: “The possibilities, costs and benefits of driverless trains are things that TfL has looked at in the past and will continue to keep under review but it is not something we are actively pursuing.”