May 19 (Bloomberg) -- Transport for London, the operator of the capital's subway system, may decide within weeks whether to close the Waterloo and City line and sections of the Northern line for ``months'' at a time for maintenance and upgrading work, the Evening Standard reported.

The company is considering the benefits of closing the lines for periods beyond the current overnight and weekend shutdowns, which restrict the amount of work that can be done, Managing Director Tim O'Toole told the London Assembly's Transport Committee March 10.

Jan O'Neill, a Transport for London spokeswoman, declined to comment on whether the company is closer to a decision.

Tube Lines Ltd. and Metronet, which have 30-year contracts to maintain and upgrade the subway, are struggling to improve the network while continuing to operate a service for its 3 million daily passengers. Closing lines for longer periods would allow more work to be done to improve the world's oldest and Europe's largest underground rail network.

(Evening Standard 5-19)

To contact the reporter on this story: Toby Anderson in London at tanderson7@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 19, 2005 06:55 EDT