Does anyone know how this project is doing regarding delivery to budget and time. I understand timewise it has been delayed a bit, but how is the budget side doing?
We get no clues about the budget side unless NR says something specific.
In any case, NR has never publicised the contracts for NW Phases 3 onwards, or their value, unlike Phases 1/2 (Liverpool-Manchester/Wigan).
It would be a surprise if it was on budget though, as there was the hiatus over closing a contract with Balfour Beatty which cost a year and required redesign by their successors (a consortium).
Some of the initial concrete bases on the Lostock-Euxton section had to be replaced by piles.
The Farnworth Tunnel project overran significantly as well, and we hear stories of problems in old mining areas.
The Ordsall Chord project also changed the southern end of the original Phase 4 (Manchester-Preston), with resignalling and remodelling of Ordsall Lane and Deal St junctions.
Presumably that work was funded as part of the Chord project.
The cutback on the Manchester-Stalybridge project is another hint of overspend.
Carillion is one of the firms delivering the NW scheme, and today they posted a heavy loss, fired the boss and said they are reviewing all parts of the business (just like Balfour Beatty did a couple of years ago).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40554302
They say they will only take on profitable business going forward.
While there's nothing specific about rail electrification in there, it might well have an impact on project roll-out.
They are also doing the Shotts line electrification in Scotland (and, I think, the MML Bedford-Corby section).
Network Rail's general slow-down in project roll-out will also affect all their major contractors.
