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Ministers refuse to release rail upgrade warning Ministers received rail upgrade warning 'before election'
(about 3 hours later)
The Department for Transport has refused to release a document that shows the scale of delays and cost overruns in major rail upgrades. Ministers were warned before the election that major rail upgrades might have to be delayed, the BBC has learnt.
The government put the electrification of two major lines on hold shortly after the election. Network Rail boss Mark Carne says the Department for Transport was told in March that decisions about deferring schemes could be due within months.
It made the decision on receiving an assessment of the state of major Network Rail projects. The department has previously said it was not told until after the election.
The department refused a Freedom of Information request from the BBC to release that assessment. The revelation will raise fresh questions about why the Conservatives promised electrification of lines in their election manifesto.
It was provided to ministers after the election, but commissioned beforehand. In a letter to the shadow transport minister Lillian Greenwood, Mr Carne writes: "In mid-March 2015, Network Rail informed DfT that decisions may need to be made in the coming months about the deferral of certain schemes."
Mr Carne added Network Rail had recommended another assessment was made before decisions were taken. It was completed after the election.
He said Network Rail, the DfT and the Office of Rail Regulation all knew around 80% of current projects were "at an extremely early stage of development, with inevitably high levels of uncertainty regarding their cost".
Earlier this month, the department said it was not sent a minute from a Network Rail meeting - uncovered by the BBC - revealing such a decision was required until after the election.
On hold
It has refused a Freedom of Information request from the BBC to release a document that shows the scale of delays and cost overruns in major rail upgrades.
The assessment was provided to ministers after the election, but commissioned beforehand.
The government put the electrification of two major lines on hold shortly after the election, after receiving an assessment of the state of major Network Rail projects.
Several warnings that the rail programme was in trouble were made public in 2014 and early 2015.Several warnings that the rail programme was in trouble were made public in 2014 and early 2015.
'Vital benefits'
Labour has accused the Conservatives of promising to electrify lines in their manifesto knowing the projects would be shelved.Labour has accused the Conservatives of promising to electrify lines in their manifesto knowing the projects would be shelved.
The department said the assessment would remain confidential because ministers and officials were still making decisions about the future of rail upgrades.The department said the assessment would remain confidential because ministers and officials were still making decisions about the future of rail upgrades.
They needed "a free space" to reassess rail plans, it said.They needed "a free space" to reassess rail plans, it said.
'Vital benefits'
In a letter responding to queries from the Labour party, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said he first received advice that major programmes should be paused on 15 June - after the election.In a letter responding to queries from the Labour party, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said he first received advice that major programmes should be paused on 15 June - after the election.
He said he had been open about "very significant challenges" to the rail programme as early as December last year, and stressed electrification had been paused not halted.He said he had been open about "very significant challenges" to the rail programme as early as December last year, and stressed electrification had been paused not halted.
He wrote: "The government remains committed to the £38bn investment through Network Rail and the vital benefits that rail enhancements will provide for passengers."He wrote: "The government remains committed to the £38bn investment through Network Rail and the vital benefits that rail enhancements will provide for passengers."
A new plan for rail upgrades produced by the chairman of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy, is to be completed by the autumn.A new plan for rail upgrades produced by the chairman of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy, is to be completed by the autumn.
The electrification of the Trans-Pennine and Midland main line routes was put on hold in June.The electrification of the Trans-Pennine and Midland main line routes was put on hold in June.
The department also refused to release any correspondence with Network Rail that could show warnings of problems so serious they might lead to the pause in electrification.The department also refused to release any correspondence with Network Rail that could show warnings of problems so serious they might lead to the pause in electrification.
It said the information would cost too much to produce.It said the information would cost too much to produce.
The Freedom of Information Act allows departments to refuse to release information related to developing government policy, or documents that would cost more than £600 to produce.The Freedom of Information Act allows departments to refuse to release information related to developing government policy, or documents that would cost more than £600 to produce.