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‘We’ve never done this kind of thing before’ says McLoughlin as electrification costs rise

The transport secretary says the reason that the Great Western Main Line electrification is over-budget is because “we've never done this kind of thing before”.

On a campaign visit to Cardiff, Patrick McLoughlin told BBC Wales: "We are doing in excess of 850 miles and we are working with the Assembly with the Valleys lines.

"Obviously we need to keep an eye on cost, but I hope as we get on with the job we can keep a control on those costs.

"There will be some cost increases because we've never done this kind of thing before."

McLoughlin added that the electrification plans were "value for money" and stressed that he hoped to meet the 2018 deadline for completion.

Speaking to the transport select committee in March, where he also said he “hoped” it would be completed on time, he mentioned the fact that the route goes through “several World Heritage sites” and some “very difficult tunnels”, and acknowledged the widely-reported “cost increase” in the project. He noted that the scheme involved 15,000 foundations, 14,000 masts, 1,500 signal upgrades and 50 station improvements.

The select committee warned that other electrification projects “should not be put at risk due to the projected overspend on the Great Western Main Line”.

McLoughlin added that he would be keeping up the “pressure” on Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation to ensure the project is completed to schedule.

Last year, RTM reported that Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne told the DfT that costs had swollen to £1.5bn, far beyond the original £600m estimate, the £874m predicted in the Strategic Business Plan, or the more recent £1bn estimate. 

(Image source: Stefan Wermuth/PA Wire)

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