Contractors are queuing up to bid for the sub-surface line work on the part-privatisation of London Underground, following news that Railtrack would no longer be bidding for the work.
Rod Hoare, chief executive of the Metronet consortium, said: 鈥淲e are definitely interested in bidding for the sub-surface section and have made it known to those involved.鈥�
Railtrack has written to LU saying it will not bid for the work. LU is aiming to publish details of the sub-surface work in the European Union鈥檚 Official Journal within a fortnight. A source close to LU said the bid documentation would be identical to that for deep Tube lines except for specific detail. The deadline for bids for sub-surface work is set to be July 2000.
Railtrack did have exclusive rights to bid for sub-surface work, but deputy prime minister John Prescott withdrew the option on Tuesday.
