The shameful state of London's transport network

In just over 100 days the UK will arrive at the climax of eight years of planning, hopes, dreams and expectations.

The spotlight of the world is going to shine on our capital, our one big chance to show off our vibrant, achieving, hard-working, proud and united nation.

The Olympics is the greatest pinnacle of opportunity a  country can reach, and at last it is here. We have the chance to achieve anything we want, and show just how Great Britain is.

The last Olympic Games was held in China – Beijing 2008 - and the city sparkled proudly as the Chinese showed off their efficiency, admirable work ethic and pride in their country.

And in July it is the turn of the UK.

But before the torch has been lit, the rot that underpins everything that will show just how far placed from China we are has already begun to creep to the surface.

And part of this rot emerged today in the form of the greedy Tube staff entrusted to keep our underground running.

London underground staff rejected a bonus of £850 to work over the Olympics claiming the change in hours and workplace would be detrimental to their “health and safety”.

Yes that’s right, they were offered more money to do their jobs over the six week period that London hosts the Olympics and Paralympics.

Did they rally together and start planning how to get the trains running smoothly duringfour of the most vital weeks of Britain’s history?

Did they go over their action plan of how to deal with the thousands more people that will descend on the city? Plan how they will keep the trains and stations clean? Moving efficiently and free of delays?

No.

They moaned about London Underground demanding “unlimited flexibility” and said almost a thousand pounds in their pockets just for turning up was not enough to cover the risk to their health.

They were not alone.

London bus workers are threatening to strike during the Olympics because they want more money, the inconvenience of working during this period is also likely to prove to much of a hazard to their health.

If you were hoping to see the nation come together, work together, and by whatever means necessary make this unique showcasing event a success, I am sorry to shatter your illusions.

But in four months China will get to see what has become of the British work ethic - and it isn’t pretty.

London Underground staff have highlighted that the UK is no longer founded on the desire to achieve and to be proud of our country. 

Their lazy, greedy, unwilling, attitude is a sad reflection of the rot that is eating through the nation.

There is no benefit in looking at the example set by the Chinese, with their working railways, booming economy and tireless work ethic, this is something that left the UK long ago.

The work-shy lot who sat on their backsides outside St Paul’s for the past four months moaning about the money everyone else has clearly demonstrated that. 

I don’t know why the actions of the underground staff are so shocking, it’s not even as if the trains work currently with just  London’s commuters to carry to and from work.

Every day since the beginning of the month I have kept a log of delays on the trains just to get an idea of how efficient they are.

There have been delays and total shut-downs every single week day.

That’s right on not one single day could Transport for London operate a system that reliably took the city’s workforce around on time.

There are 135 days until the Olympics, when there will be thousands upon thousands of people clambering to use the trains (Picture: Getty Images) .

I am genuinely saddened when I realise, of course we are not going to cope, who are we kidding? Especially as the attitude of the staff is  “We don’t care anyway”.

I asked Transport for London for their comments on this sorry situation.

Their answer? Delays are at their lowest since 2003/4.

Sorry, but by my calculations you can’t get much lower than 100 per cent INefficiency.

I spoke to Tory MP Patrick Mercer about the actions of the Union today, and he sounded genuinely disappointed.

“It’s got nothing to do with health and safety,” he said.

“It is pure greed. They are going to do nothing but increase the bad opinion people already have.

“I am truly disappointed at this.”

And I am too Mr Mercer.

Shame on you Unite, and shame on every single staff member who supports this action.

As I mentioned, I have started to compile a log of the service provided by Transport for London.

Here is how it is looking so far:

March 5, delays on the Central Line

March 6, delays on the Victoria Line

March 7, delays on the Victoria Line

March 8, delays on the Central, Jubilee, and Victoria Lines and DLR

March 9, Jubilee Line suspended

March 10, Central Line part closed, DLR part closed, overground part closed, severe delays on the Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines.

March 12, severe delays on the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith and City Lines

March 13, delays on the DLR

March 14, delays on District and Circle Lines.

Mark Evers, Director of Games Transport at TfL, said:  “We have two clear objectives at TfL during the London 2012 Games - to support the delivery of a great Games and ensure we keep London and the UK moving and open for business this summer.

“Around £6.5bn has been invested in upgrading and extending transport links to increase capacity and improve service reliability ahead of the Games, and this includes extra capacity on the DLR, Jubilee and Central Lines which all serve Olympic and Paralympic Games venues. 

“London Underground’s latest performance figures show that average delays on the Tube network are at their lowest since 2003/04, and that DLR reliability in the last quarter of 2011 had reached 97.4 per cent.

“We know what a vital year this is for the capital and we are focused 100 per cent on delivering an even more reliable service for Londoners and the millions of people looking forward to the Games.”