[Cross-posted to uk.railway and uk.transport.london]

"Transport for London (TfL) has applied to take over the services of
Tube maintenance firm Metronet, which went into administration last
month."

For the rest of the story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6962481.stm


A very interesting development. The BBC story doesn't however provide
much information with regards to the mechanics of the process that is
underway - one presumes that TfL is applying to the Department for
Transport, though I guess it's not inconceivable that TfL might also
have a hand in choosing who becomes the new infrastructure contractor/
franchisee.

It will be interesting to see how the DfT - and indeed central
government in the form of the Treasury and the new PM Brown - handle
this. Mayor Livingstone will undoubtedly push the case hard for TfL to
be given responsibility for maintaining the infrastructure of the two
thirds of the network that was handled by Metronet.