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| Great Western Railway electrification 'four years late' | Great Western Railway electrification 'four years late' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The electrification of some routes across the south of England is running four years late, Network Rail has said. | |
| The rail infrastructure owner, which has estimated its project could cost £2.8bn, is carrying out the work on the Great Western railway line. | |
| It was originally due to be finished by 2018, with most diesel trains replaced. | It was originally due to be finished by 2018, with most diesel trains replaced. |
| However, some routes due to be completed before then will not be ready until 2020, resulting in new trains sitting in sidings. | However, some routes due to be completed before then will not be ready until 2020, resulting in new trains sitting in sidings. |
| Under the original plan Reading to Didcot should have already been completed, with Oxford and Bristol next in 2016. | Under the original plan Reading to Didcot should have already been completed, with Oxford and Bristol next in 2016. |
| But because work has fallen behind, Didcot is expected to be two year's late in 2017, and Newbury and Oxford three year's late in 2018 and 2019, respectively. | But because work has fallen behind, Didcot is expected to be two year's late in 2017, and Newbury and Oxford three year's late in 2018 and 2019, respectively. |
| Bristol will not see electric trains until 2020, and the East West rail link from Oxford to Bletchley is delayed until the early 2020s. | Bristol will not see electric trains until 2020, and the East West rail link from Oxford to Bletchley is delayed until the early 2020s. |
| 'Dreadful' news | 'Dreadful' news |
| Julian Burnell, from Network Rail, called it a "very large and complicated project which involves a vast number of variables across a very large area of the country". | Julian Burnell, from Network Rail, called it a "very large and complicated project which involves a vast number of variables across a very large area of the country". |
| He added: "We're in a much better position to define exactly when we'll be able to complete the work." | He added: "We're in a much better position to define exactly when we'll be able to complete the work." |
| Dan Panes, from Great Western Railway, said: "It's not good news today but what we've got to do is make sure that we deliver those improvements." | Dan Panes, from Great Western Railway, said: "It's not good news today but what we've got to do is make sure that we deliver those improvements." |
| Christopher Irwin, from passenger Group TravelWatch Southwest, said the news was "dreadful". | Christopher Irwin, from passenger Group TravelWatch Southwest, said the news was "dreadful". |
| He added: "We've got to have trains - electric, diesel, or whatever. We need more trains and more seats." | He added: "We've got to have trains - electric, diesel, or whatever. We need more trains and more seats." |
| Network Rail's chief executive Mark Carne told MPs in October the estimate for the project had been £874m in January 2013 and £1.5bn in September 2014. | Network Rail's chief executive Mark Carne told MPs in October the estimate for the project had been £874m in January 2013 and £1.5bn in September 2014. |
| He said because of "inadequate planning" it could now reach £2.8bn. | He said because of "inadequate planning" it could now reach £2.8bn. |