Written question asked by Nicholas Dakin (Labour) on Thursday, 6 July 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 July 2017 (named day). It was answered by Elizabeth Truss (Conservative) on Tuesday, 11 July 2017 on behalf of the Treasury.

Railways: Finance

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, over the course of Control Period 5, the cost of delivery for UK railways is projected to exceed the original funding assumptions for enhancements.

Answer: We are investing more than £40 billion in Network Rail, including £15 billion of rail enhancements. In 2015 Sir Peter Hendy was asked to replan the programme to put it on a more sustainable footing, and following Sir Peter's review we have revised our approach to enhancements and the way we govern the programme to ensure that it is delivered within the fixed funding available. A key aspect of this approach is the ongoing assessment of investment decisions so that we deliver these improvements in a way that provides best value for taxpayers.

Secondary information