Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the projected end date is of the East Coast Mainline Programme and when that date was last reviewed; what the forecast spend is for financial year 2022-23 and when that forecast was last reviewed; what the initial planned whole life costs were; what the projected whole life costs are and when that projection was last reviewed; and what the delivery confidence assessment is and when that was last reviewed.

The East Coast Main Line (ECML) Enhancements Programme has a projected end date of 01 December 2024, with forecast spend on the Programme for this financial year of £56m. Initial planned whole life costs were £1230m, whilst projected whole life costs are now £1098m.

The Delivery Confidence Assessment for the Programme remains Amber as set out in the Infrastructure and Projects Authority 2023 Annual Report, as the majority of benefits will not be realised until a new ECML timetable is introduced which is anticipated in 2024, and some may remain outstanding beyond that (principally for Leeds). All of this detail is reviewed quarterly in line with requirements for the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio.