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| West coast rail upgrade warning | West coast rail upgrade warning |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| The West Coast Main Line may not be able to sustain passenger growth within 10 years despite massive investment, a UK government watchdog has warned. | |
| The key Scotland to London rail line is undergoing an £8.6bn upgrade. | The key Scotland to London rail line is undergoing an £8.6bn upgrade. |
| But the National Audit Office said the line may not be able to cope with current levels of growth beyond 2015. | But the National Audit Office said the line may not be able to cope with current levels of growth beyond 2015. |
| The auditors also warned that electronic signalling equipment may become obsolete significantly earlier than expected. | The auditors also warned that electronic signalling equipment may become obsolete significantly earlier than expected. |
| To sustain train operations, the line's operator, Virgin Trains, was paid £590m more in subsidy in the period 2002-06 than envisaged in its franchise agreement, the report said. | To sustain train operations, the line's operator, Virgin Trains, was paid £590m more in subsidy in the period 2002-06 than envisaged in its franchise agreement, the report said. |
| Growth forecasts | Growth forecasts |
| Head of the National Audit Office (NAO) Sir John Bourn said: "The weaknesses in the management of the project before 2002 should provide ample warning of the dangers of entering into a scheme on this scale without clear leadership, plans and project management expertise; without fully engaging stakeholders; and using untried technologies. | Head of the National Audit Office (NAO) Sir John Bourn said: "The weaknesses in the management of the project before 2002 should provide ample warning of the dangers of entering into a scheme on this scale without clear leadership, plans and project management expertise; without fully engaging stakeholders; and using untried technologies. |
| "Future major projects should draw upon these lessons learned, give careful consideration up front to the potential effects of programme slippage and include plans to minimise these risks." | "Future major projects should draw upon these lessons learned, give careful consideration up front to the potential effects of programme slippage and include plans to minimise these risks." |
| The report said the upgrade's remaining key projects would increase capacity for passengers and freight, but the industry consensus was that the line would not be able to sustain current growth levels beyond 2015-2020. | The report said the upgrade's remaining key projects would increase capacity for passengers and freight, but the industry consensus was that the line would not be able to sustain current growth levels beyond 2015-2020. |
| There also remained uncertainty about the expected lifespan of some of the equipment on the upgraded line. | There also remained uncertainty about the expected lifespan of some of the equipment on the upgraded line. |
| The line now has high-speed tilting Pendolino trains which have significantly cut journey times between Scotland, the north of England and London. | The line now has high-speed tilting Pendolino trains which have significantly cut journey times between Scotland, the north of England and London. |
| The NAO said punctuality and passenger satisfaction were much improved and the number of passenger journeys on Virgin West Coast increased by 20% in 2005-06, which was 4% more than expected. | The NAO said punctuality and passenger satisfaction were much improved and the number of passenger journeys on Virgin West Coast increased by 20% in 2005-06, which was 4% more than expected. |