Marconi close to Tube comms contract

Marconi is on the verge of securing a contract to update communications infrastructure for the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines of the London Underground network through a deal with Tube Lines, the public-private partnership (PPP) that runs those parts of London's underground rail network.

The telecoms equipment vendor has already been working with Tube Lines on the far-reaching project for over 18 months and is eyeing a 13-year deal. It will cover public address systems, CCTV, customer help points, visual displays and a central management system that monitors functions including lifts and ventilation.

The announcement comes just days after some of the worst disruption seen on the busy Northern Line for several years, caused by faults with radio equipment.

Steve Harris, MD of Marconi's transportation group, said the deal will involve "strong asset management controls" with the vendor helping with "upgrades, refreshes" and keeping "an eye on obsolescence".

Marconi's transportation arm already works with the UK's Highways Agency and has won public transport-related contracts in Germany and Italy. It currently maintains aspects of the Jubilee line extension.

Well-documented problems this week have in part been caused by previous providers of kit no longer being involved in the underground's maintenance.

Marconi, which has now signed a 'heads of terms' agreement with a view to closing the contract early next year, has had to demonstrate a clear business case for how it will manage assets for Tube Lines which lead to operating improvements. The value of the deal hasn't been disclosed but is thought to be worth several million pounds.

Tube Lines comprises Amey, Bechtel and Jarvis. The other main PPP operator of underground lines in London is Metronet.