Wiring money

We have long backed industry calls for a rolling programme of electrification, which in recent years has become an unexpected reality.

Just seven years ago, the idea was virtually written off in DfT policy documents, but electrification has been one of the beneficiaries of the recent renaissance in infrastructure investment in the rail industry.

The fear was always that we lacked the resources – human and plant – to cope with electrification on such a scale, even when staggered over time.

Some of the biggest schemes appear to have had their costs and timescales grossly underestimated, with a host of unexpected issues causing problems and re-evaluation.

Great Western, north west phase 2, Transpennine, Midland Main Line – most of the electrification schemes you care to mention, at whatever stage, are suffering delays or cost inflation.

There is likely to be a change in government coming up, and the ORR clearly has concerns.

We need the DfT and Treasury to retain confidence in Network Rail and the overall benefits of electrification.