The Jubilee line could close if the Government does not grant Transport for London emergency and long-term funding, according to reports.

With cash-strapped TfL's current deal set to expire on December 11, Sadiq Khan warned yesterday that one of the capital's 11 Tube lines be forced shut unless a new agreement is reached.

The Bakerloo and Jubilee lines are reportedly most at risk from cuts or closure, according to the Evening Standard. The Jubilee line serves North Greenwich, the only Tube station in south east London.

Speaking at the Centre for London, the Mayor said: “If the Government continues to starve TfL of funding, bus services would have to be reduced by almost a fifth, and Tube services would need to be cut by nearly 10 per cent.

“In practice, this could mean more than 100 bus routes being withdrawn and less frequent Tube timetables on a number of lines and branches. TfL is even having to look at potentially closing a whole Tube line to achieve the savings it may need to make.

“And that’s not all. There would also be an increase in road and tunnel closures due to a lack of money to maintain London’s key transport infrastructure.

“This combination of deteriorating public transport services and an increase in road and tunnel closures would cause wide-spread disruption and gridlock across the capital.

“Not only would this have a devastating effect on passengers, but it would put the national economic recovery at risk.

“Because there can be no national economic recovery without a London recovery, and there can no London recovery without a properly funded public transport network in the capital.

“On December 11, the existing temporary funding deal between TfL and the Government comes to an end.

“So it’s time to remove short-term political thinking and to come together to call on the Government to provide the long-term funding TfL urgently needs.”

The collapse in passenger numbers during the coronavirus pandemic has decimated TfL's finances, making previous billion-pound Government bailouts in November 2020 and June 2021 vital to keep services running.

A report to City Hall’s finance committee detailed worse-than-expected impacts on the transport network, as TfL's its most recent funding deal comes to a close this month.

The TfL Finance Committee’s report to City Hall detailed reductions of more than £1 billion in annual running costs over the past five years but says more savings will be needed because of the projected £1.9 billion funding gap.

This would mean a move to a “managed decline” scenario, the report says, requiring at least an 18% reduction in bus services and a 9% cut to tube services.

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