The government says it will delay or cut back a number of modernisation projects planned for Network Rail. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin says rising costs and missed targets make the £38.5bn plan untenable. He blamed Network Rail, saying it should have foreseen the improvements would cost more and take longer.
Network Rail said the plan, which was launched last year as the “largest modernisation of the railways since Victorian times”, was too ambitious.
Network Rail controls 2,500 stations as well as tracks, tunnels and level crossings across the UK.
Commenting on the decision to pause the rail upgrade programme, Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber ,said:
“Although it was becoming obvious that Network Rail’s programme to upgrade the UK railways the decision to pause the upgrades this is bad news. It is not clear yet how the East of England will be affected but we will need to continue to make our economic case to get investment in our railway.
“There is no escaping that our railway network is in desperate need of major investment. If we are to see the economic growth we aspire to, we need the infrastructure to support it. That means, amongst other things, Norfolk needs a world class railway but what we currently have is nothing of the sort. Sadly, businesses and commuters will have to continue to get by with rail services which cannot be relied upon.
“Network Rail and the Government must develop a robust plan to put the investment project back on track in short order. And it is a matter of economic importance that they then keep to it.”
