PPP contractor files claim form at TCC after adjudicator dismissed its argument in January

Tube Lines has started legal proceedings against London Underground following the dismissal of a 拢327m claim for its work on upgrading the tube earlier this year.

The PPP contractor has filed a claim form at the Technology and Construction Court, and now has six months to serve it, but Tube Lines said no final decision has been made on whether to pursue the matter.

In January an independent adjudicator rejected Tube Lines claim 鈥渋n its entirety鈥 that delays to the upgrades of the Northern and Jubilee lines were the fault of LU for changing contract terms. Tube Lines was also ordered to pay LU鈥檚 legal costs.

Legal experts said it was not uncommon for a settlement to be reached after an adjudicator鈥檚 decision, which was more conducive to both sides.

A Tube Lines spokesperson said: 鈥淭he ruling through the adjudication process is an interim decision and a claim is not examined in as much detail as if it was going through the court.

鈥淲hilst the adjudicator on the claim in question ruled in LU's favour he didn鈥檛 dispute that LU鈥檚 requests to include additional features to the core signalling system incurred additional costs and delays to the programme.

鈥淲hat he said was that Tube Lines didn鈥檛 file claims notices in accordance with the PPP Contract.鈥