low graphics version | feedback | help
| Front Page World UK UK Politics |
| Business |
|
Market Data Economy Companies Your Money Business Basics |
| Sci/Tech Health Education Sport Entertainment Talking Point In Depth Audio/Video |
Tube passengers to vote on mobiles
Mobiles may soon be allowed on platforms |
London commuters are to be asked in a poll whether they want to use mobile phones on underground platforms.
New technology means that for the first time mobile phones can work on Tube platforms.
London Underground managing director Derek Smith said that passengers would be asked in a telephone poll if they want the facility.
A £1.2bn upgrade of the Tube's communications systems will also mean faster platform information about the arrival time of trains and faster communications between staff.
The upgrade should also improve safety. Drivers will have the latest radios in their cabs and will not have to get out to use line side phones if problems occur.
The first parts of the Underground to be upgraded are the District, Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines, with the rest expected to be completed by 2004.
CityLink wins contract
CityLink, a consortium that includes Racal, Motorola and Fluor Daniel, has won the contract to upgrade the Tube's communications systems.
It will cost £500m to install the new system, which will include state-of-the-art digital radio, and £700m to run and maintain over the next 20 years.
CityLink will raise £350m of private capital for the project, which is part of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
The PFI is a government initiative that promotes co-operation between the public and private sectors.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
|
|
See also: |
|
 |
|
 |
19 May 99 | The Company File |
|
Tube station hotels plan |
| |
|
|
13 Jun 99 | The Company File |
|
Railtrack bid for tube |
| |
|
|
Internet links: |
|
|
|
|
|
London Transport |
| |
|
|
Racal |
| |
|
|
Motorola |
| |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites |
|
Links to other Business stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~31~RS~)