Network Rail's improvement plans go into reverse

If a railway can go into reverse - this is it. For years we have been told that government is investing in train services "that are faster, more frequent, greener and have extra space".

But this lunchtime comes the announcement that Network Rail will not be able to reach the targets we all thought had been agreed at the highest levels and now the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has said the £38.5 billion pound improvement plan is in parts - unworkable.

The projects at most risk of being delayed are electrification of the Midland Mainline and work on sections of transpennine electrification between Leeds and Manchester

In a humbling statement, the head of Network Rail has said "I think it's time to level with the public and say that some of these projects that we absolutely need are going to take longer and are going to cost more than we originally thought."

This then is the ultimate railway delay covering the improvements that very many passengers will regard as already very long overdue. Some new passenger survey results also released today show levels of satisfaction falling on some of the busiest most overcrowded lines.

Network Rail’s Annual Report has revealed today "the pace of improvement is behind expectations. Several regulatory targets were missed and there are slippages in the major projects portfolio".

In plain speak the railways are not going to deliver the kind of improvements we all were expecting and its back to the drawing board on what they can actually and realistically deliver.