Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his latest cost estimate is for (a) Reading Station Area Redevelopment, (b) East West Rail Phase 1 and Phase 2, (c) the Northern Hub, (d) TransPennine electrification, (e) Great Western Mainline electrification, (f) Midland Mainline electrification, (g) South Wales Mainline electrification and (h) Valley Lines electrification.

This Government has committed to a transformational package of rail investment, including an extensive rolling programme of electrification of over 850 route miles, compared to just 10 miles completed between 1997 and 2010.

At this early stage, eight months into Network Rail’s current five year funding period, the cost estimates of many of the programmes have not yet been determined. Network Rail continues to develop the Rail Investment Strategy programme with the Department and review costs with the Office of Rail Regulation. The Transport Secretary has been clear these projects should be delivered within the overall Network Rail budget. The latest cost estimates (in 2012/13 prices) are listed below, though not all of these programmes have been through the Office of Rail Regulation’s cost scrutiny process (“Enhancements Cost Adjustment Mechanism”):

(a) Reading Station Area Resignalling and Remodelling, including the new station and maintenance depot: £895m is Network Rail’s anticipated final cost when the scheme completes at Easter 2015

(b) East West Rail Phase 1 (Oxford – Bicester) – Network Rail estimate of £318m

(c) East West Rail Phase 2 (Bicester – Bletchley – Bedford) – currently at an early stage of development

(d) The Northern Hub – funding commitment of £600m, programme still in development

(e) TransPennine electrification – funding commitment of £300m, programme still in development

(f) Great Western Mainline electrification – Network Rail recent estimate of £1.7bn

(g) Midland Mainline electrification - Network Rail recent estimate of £1.3bn

(h) South Wales Mainline electrification – the section from Cardiff to Swansea is at an early stage of development

(i) Valley Lines electrification – at an early stage of development (sponsored by the Welsh Government)