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There cannot be a definitive plan for the East Coast Main Line route modernisation until the SRA has produced its Strategic Plan for the route.
At the request of the SRA, Railtrack has costed a range of options. Final resolution of the project is dependent on the requirements of the franchise holder and other users of the route.
Implementation of Phase 1 of the ECML route modernisation is already underway. Railtrack initiated this work in advance of the re-franchising process to ensure sufficient capacity could be maintained. Pre- feasibility work has been carried out for the next three phases of the plan in partnership with our programme managers Fluor Daniel and Mott Macdonald during the last 18 months.
The eventual cost and specification of the plan will depend on the requirements of the new franchisee, the SRA and the reasonable requirements of the other Train and Freight Operators on the route.
The specification Railtrack has been working to has been the subject of regular review between Railtrack and the SRA in a joint process since the key route conference (held in January 2000).
Since then, the SRA's franchise re-bidding process has been underway and a range of cost estimates and different options has been given to the SRA.
The like for like cost for the core elements of the programme have risen by 20-25%. This is not unusual for a project at this early stage of feasibility and development.
Further increases in the estimates arise from changes to the specification to accommodate additional train paths for other operators and improve diversionary routes. These items need to be refined with industry parties in due course as part of moving the programme to final evaluation and scope in conjunction with the SRA.
With the exclusion of Phase 1, the ECML upgrade is not currently a committed project for Railtrack. Clearly it is not possible to progress and finalise the development of the project in the absence of a preferred bidder.
Railtrack is working with all parts of the industry to deliver a railway, which is capable of coping with the significant growth in passenger numbers expected over the next decade.
The precise details of the enhancements across the network can only be assessed in the light of the SRA's strategic plan and on an individual project when the demands of the Train Operating Companies for that particular route have been decided.
For more information please contact the Railtrack press office on 020 7557 8292/3. All recent press releases can be found on the Railtrack web site www.railtrack.co.uk/corporate
