Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated cost of electrifying the relief lines between Severn Tunnel Junction and Cardiff at a subsequent date to the electrification of the main lines.

Recently the Great Western Electrification Programme (GWEP) – Maidenhead to Cardiff (Route Sections 1 - 9) went through the Enhancement Cost Adjustment Mechanism (ECAM) process. As part of the industry’s commitment to transparency, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has been keen to ensure there is clarity around ECAM and how it operates. It will continue to provide independent commentary on enhancement schemes, as well as Network Rail performance.

The ORR would not expect to publish its findings on the level of funding for individual projects until after Network Rail has competitively procured from its supply chain.

The ORR will report its conclusions at an aggregate funding level, rather than project-by-project. The ECAM process is planned to be completed in early summer 2016. The role of the ORR is to be transparent and consistent delivering the best value for rail users and tax-payers.