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Great Western electrification 'deferred' amid cost overruns Great Western electrification 'deferred' amid cost overruns
(about 4 hours later)
Work to electrify key branch lines on rail routes to Oxford and Bristol has been suspended, the government has announced.Work to electrify key branch lines on rail routes to Oxford and Bristol has been suspended, the government has announced.
The troubled programme has been beset by delays and cost overruns, with its budget trebling to £2.8bn.The troubled programme has been beset by delays and cost overruns, with its budget trebling to £2.8bn.
Although a review of the works by Network Rail in 2015 led to the project being replanned on a “more efficient footing”, on Tuesday the rail minister Paul Maynard announced that four parts of the programme would be indefinitely “deferred”. These are electrification of tracks between Oxford and Didcot Parkway, between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads, between Bristol Temple Meads and the city’s Parkway station, and of the Thames Valley branch lines to Henley and Windsor. Although a review of the work by Network Rail in 2015 led to the project being replanned on a “more efficient footing”, on Tuesday the rail minister Paul Maynard announced that four parts of the programme would be indefinitely “deferred”. These are electrification of tracks between Oxford and Didcot Parkway, between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads, between Bristol Temple Meads and the city’s Parkway station, and of the Thames Valley branch lines to Henley and Windsor.
Some of the work is expected to be rescheduled to coincide with other engineering work at a later date this decade, for greater efficiency, but no dates have yet been given by Network Rail or the Department for Transport. The electrification is expected to be rescheduled for some time before 2024, potentially allowing other engineering work to be conducted alongside, although details of funding have not been agreed between Network Rail or the DfT.
The government said it was continuing to invest £2.8bn in electrification, suggesting that the overall budget may have risen further.The government said it was continuing to invest £2.8bn in electrification, suggesting that the overall budget may have risen further.
Maynard said the route modernisation was “an ambitious and challenging undertaking, but real progress is being made in delivering it”, including upgrades to signalling, modification of more than 100 bridges and structures, and work on the Severn Tunnel.Maynard said the route modernisation was “an ambitious and challenging undertaking, but real progress is being made in delivering it”, including upgrades to signalling, modification of more than 100 bridges and structures, and work on the Severn Tunnel.
But he added: “We have been clear that there have been difficulties with this programme.”But he added: “We have been clear that there have been difficulties with this programme.”
The difficulties were set out last year in a review of Network Rail’s delivery plan by its chairman, Sir Peter Hendy, although the review did not call for these specific projects to be postponed.The difficulties were set out last year in a review of Network Rail’s delivery plan by its chairman, Sir Peter Hendy, although the review did not call for these specific projects to be postponed.
Maynard said the deferrals had been made “because we can bring in the benefits expected by passengers – newer trains with more capacity – without requiring costly and disruptive electrification works”. He said it would provide £146m to £165m for other improvements, and added: “We remain committed to modernising the Great Western main line and ensuring that passenger benefits are achieved.”Maynard said the deferrals had been made “because we can bring in the benefits expected by passengers – newer trains with more capacity – without requiring costly and disruptive electrification works”. He said it would provide £146m to £165m for other improvements, and added: “We remain committed to modernising the Great Western main line and ensuring that passenger benefits are achieved.”
Labour said it was “yet another example of a broken Tory promise on rail”. Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, said: “These electrification works have seen their cost triple and have now been shelved twice, with businesses and commuters being made to pay the price for the government’s incompetence.Labour said it was “yet another example of a broken Tory promise on rail”. Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, said: “These electrification works have seen their cost triple and have now been shelved twice, with businesses and commuters being made to pay the price for the government’s incompetence.
“It is unacceptable for ministers to renege on promises to deliver electrification of lines time and time again. The secretary of state must reverse this decision and make clear that the government will keep to their word and deliver the upgrades as planned.”“It is unacceptable for ministers to renege on promises to deliver electrification of lines time and time again. The secretary of state must reverse this decision and make clear that the government will keep to their word and deliver the upgrades as planned.”
Mark Langman, Network Rail’s western route managing director, said: “The Great Western main line is undergoing a huge rail investment programme to enable new and upgraded trains with more seats and faster, greener journeys. The changes announced today will deliver those benefits to the greatest number of passengers in the shortest possible time. The programme remains complex and challenging but good progress is being made.”Mark Langman, Network Rail’s western route managing director, said: “The Great Western main line is undergoing a huge rail investment programme to enable new and upgraded trains with more seats and faster, greener journeys. The changes announced today will deliver those benefits to the greatest number of passengers in the shortest possible time. The programme remains complex and challenging but good progress is being made.”
The cancellation comes before the publication of a National Audit Office report examining the huge cost overruns in the works. It will further fuel fears among MPs in other parts of the country that critical upgrades could be delayed or axed. In June 2015 the government “paused” the electrification of the TransPennine route and the Midland main line due to the problems at Great Western. Although these projects were officially restarted last autumn after intervention by the then chancellor, George Osborne, the timetable for completion was significantly extended. The suspensions come before the publication of a National Audit Office report examining the huge cost overruns in the works. It will further fuel fears among MPs in other parts of the country that critical upgrades could be delayed or axed. In June 2015 the government “paused” the electrification of the TransPennine route and the Midland main line due to the problems at Great Western. Although these projects were officially restarted last autumn after intervention by the then chancellor, George Osborne, the timetable for completion was significantly extended.
In a Commons debate on Monday night, Maynard refused to repeat pledges that the full Midland main line programme would be delivered by 2023, after local MPs including the Conservatives’ Nicky Morgan sought assurances.In a Commons debate on Monday night, Maynard refused to repeat pledges that the full Midland main line programme would be delivered by 2023, after local MPs including the Conservatives’ Nicky Morgan sought assurances.