'£7.6bn cuts' to fund Tube upgrades

[Aurora]

The Independent - 29/03/11

London's mayor has pledged the greatest investment in the capital's transport network in 80 years after identifying "staggering" savings and efficiencies of £7.6 billion.

Boris Johnson said that over the next four years three Tube lines will be fully upgraded, new trains will be delivered to five lines, major progress will be made on the Crossrail project, the London Overground rail network will be completed, and the capital's bike hire scheme will be extended.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said it "defies belief" that the "cuts target" is being increased from £5 billion to £7.6 billion.

Transport for London's revised business plan will be considered by its board tomorrow, setting out plans to deal with an extra 112 million Tube passengers over the next four years.

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