Carne opposes five-year funding cycle for big projects

Network Rail Chief Executive Mark Carne told the Public Accounts Committee  “there is no doubt at all in my view” that the Great Western Main Line electrification programme should have been managed in the same way as projects such as Crossrail and Thameslink.

“Personally, I think it is a really good way of funding ongoing operations, maintenance and renewals. But I am not sure it is a really good way of funding major investment projects,” he said.

PAC member Nigel Mills expressed doubt about NR’s ability to estimate costs, with the Enhancements Cost Adjustment Mechanism programme expected to be completed in 2017 rather than the original March 2015 deadline: “So actually, you don’t know how much all these projects are going to cost, so I don’t know how you can say your estimating is generally good, seeing as you haven’t done the estimates.”

• For more on this, read RAIL 787, published today (November 11).