Rail electrification work should have had 'more planning'

The Chief Executive of Network Rail has admitted more planning should have been carried out before work started to electrify the line between London and the West Country.

It was supposed to bring cleaner, quieter and quicker trains to the region, but the project has already over-run.

Last month some routes were deferred because of soaring costs.

Bristol Parkway to Temple Meads has been put on hold along with the line towards Bath Spa, stopping 12 miles east of the city at Thingley Junction near Corsham.

Today Bristol South MP Karin Smyth questioned both Mark Carne and the civil servant in charge about the delays and the impact on passengers.

They appeared in front of the Public Accounts Committee to explain why a project that was due to finish in 2018 now had no definite date for completion.

Karin Smyth asked for a date when electrification will be delivered on the line:

A project with no end date has also seen huge overspends.

The route between London and Cardiff was expected to cost £874 million. That cost is now expected to top £2.8 billion.

Network Rails Chief Executive Mark Carne admitted there should have been better planning before construction work began:

Despite the deferral of routes into Bath and Bristol it's unlikely passengers will notice much difference.

They will still benefit from new trains, while the train operators miss out on the benefits electrification provides.

But that will be little comfort to regular rail users who are still coming to terms with a rise in fares of 2.3% from January.