District line closures all weekend

Transport bosses have decided to only allow low risk works on the District line this weekend, after last week's catastrophe.

The contractor carrying out engineering work, Balfour Beatty, was heavily criticised after it failed to complete last weekend's work in time, resulting in the District line remaining closed between Wimbledon and Putney on Monday morning.

The problem caused massive disruption for commuters and caused traffic jams in and around Wimbledon Park.

A spokesman from London Underground said work will continue on the District line in the East Putney and Putney Bridge area and the line will be closed between Parsons Green and Wimbledon all day Saturday and Sunday.

However, it will be essential low-risk, non-intrusive work following on from the track replacement works last weekend.

David Waboso, from London Underground, said: "What happened on the District line last weekend was completely unacceptable. As a result Balfour Beatty will only be carrying out essential low-risk works, rather than large-scale track replacement work, until we are confident with their improvement programme.

"We are working with them to ensure that we are satisfied that last weekend's delay will not be repeated.

"This means that this weekend's planned closure on the District line will go ahead as advertised and we will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure that all works run to schedule."

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