This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33654572
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ministers received rail upgrade warning 'before election' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Ministers were warned before the election that major rail upgrades might have to be delayed, the BBC has learnt. | |
Network Rail boss Mark Carne says the Department for Transport was told in March that decisions about deferring schemes could be due within months. | |
The department has previously said it was not told until after the election. | |
The revelation will raise fresh questions about why the Conservatives promised electrification of lines in their election manifesto. | |
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. |
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. |