Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline Autumn 2019 Schemes Update

[Nicholas Lewis]

This posted on DofT website

https://assets.publishing.service.g...Network_Enhancements_Pipeline_Publication.pdf

not referenced back to previous versions but it feels as though progress is feebly slow and im not sure that any scheme has yet received Decision to Deliver from the department but i maybe misreading it.

 

[coppercapped]

Various sections of industry, specifically the contractors and companies who would build the 'enhancements', have been criticising the DfT since the CP6 settlement with Network Rail for not giving them some idea of what was planned and when so they could plan more effectively for the middle term. The idea was by publishing the Enhancements Pipeline (as enhancements were /not/ included in the CP6 settlement) industry could get some idea of needed staffing levels, what skills might be needed, what funding they needed to get available and so on.

So the DfT has played a straight bat - it's now published an 'Enhancements Pipeline' document so it can now say 'What are you bitching about? We've published what you've been demanding'.

The trouble is that it is content free. Most of the line items are projects carried over from Control Period 5 and - crucially - there are no dates.

Sir Humphrey Appleby at his best...

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Skipton-Colne? Doesn't sound like a shovel-ready scheme to me.
No mention of completion of GW electrification around Bristol (Oxford is mentioned indirectly as a capacity scheme), although Wigan-Bolton is in there.
Depressing that the Trans Pennine scheme is still not at the Deliver stage (to those expecting wiring to start east of Manchester Victoria).
The North Wales Journey Time Improvements mentions Connectivity to High Speed Rail... Where?

 

[Aictos]

Skipton-Colne? Doesn't sound like a shovel-ready scheme to me.

You might have misread the document but it does say in black and white that the determinate stage is there to explore the issue that other stakeholders, DfT and Network Rail may have identified, what outcomes may be sought and to assess the viability of the idea which if taken to the next stage results in a strategic outline business case.

It doesn't mean that they will fund the reopening as any potential scheme has to go though 5 stages before going forward and besides it also says the Government does NOT commit to delivery until a decision to deliver has been approved which is Stage 4.

The only reason it is on there in the first place is not because it's going to happen but simply because there happens to be a issue that DfT, Network Rail or other stakeholders have identified in the first place.

 

[td97]

Doesn't appear complete to my knowledge either...

 

[jonesy3001]

castlefield corridor and the wigan - lostock electrification in the determine section, now let's see if they get the go-ahead.

 

[geoffk]

What electric services would use Lostock - Wigan, now that services from Stalybridge and Alderley Edge which terminate at Wigan NW will be going to Southport instead? Has it been decided that 769s will run to Southport?

 

[jonesy3001]

What electric services would use Lostock - Wigan, now that services from Stalybridge and Alderley Edge which terminate at Wigan NW will be going to Southport instead? Has it been decided that 769s will run to Southport?

Will come in handy when springs branch depot is open, incase something happens on the chat moss/wcml meaning diverts having to go up to preston and turn back.

 

[HowardGWR]

Just reading the actual document, some idea of the standard of care in producing it can be gleaned by this description about Euston development.
"Redevelopment of the convectional station to provide a more integration transport solution at Euston"

Apart from the clearly draughty place the DfT apparently thinks Euston is, what about the grammar?

Pathetic. Thinking about what someone wrote above, at least Sir Humphrey would not have made these howlers.

 

[Bald Rick]

This posted on DofT website

https://assets.publishing.service.g...Network_Enhancements_Pipeline_Publication.pdf

not referenced back to previous versions but it feels as though progress is feebly slow and im not sure that any scheme has yet received Decision to Deliver from the department but i maybe misreading it.

Well the document suggests that Gatwick has received decision to deliver, and I’m pretty sure the
Kings Lynn line platform extensions are being built now. There must be others..

castlefield corridor and the wigan - lostock electrification in the determine section, now let's see if they get the go-ahead.

To set expectations - a project need some 4 decisions before it is given ‘the go ahead’:

Decision to initiate
Decision to develop
Decision to design
Decision to deliver

The two you mention have each gone through the first decision point. That is no guarantee they will get through them all, far from it. It can, of course, take years to get through the pipeline, as each point needs a decision from government, which in turn needs a government!

 

[ABB125]

Decision to initiate
Decision to develop
Decision to design
Decision to deliver

The two you mention have each gone through the first decision point. That is no guarantee they will get through them all, far from it. It can, of course, take years to get through the pipeline, as each point needs a decision from government, which in turn needs a government!

Is this the main problem with projects within (and without) the rail industry? Would it be better if the government simply sent Network Rail/whoever a cheque every year/5 years and said "spend this how you so wish to do"?

 

[eastdyke]

Is this the main problem with projects within (and without) the rail industry? Would it be better if the government simply sent Network Rail/whoever a cheque every year/5 years and said "spend this how you so wish to do"?

Well they could send the cheque to me. I would (of course ) make sure that the money was spent 'wisely' to support the economy and people of this country.

 

[cle]

Do these 'decisions to' now take the place of the GRIP model?

 

[Bald Rick]

Is this the main problem with projects within (and without) the rail industry? Would it be better if the government simply sent Network Rail/whoever a cheque every year/5 years and said "spend this how you so wish to do"?

I don’t know whether you are being ironic or not - but just in case not (and for other readers) ... that was of course the process until a couple of years ago.

Do these 'decisions to' now take the place of the GRIP model?

No. GRIP is the process for managing a project or programme from inception to post-completion. The RNEP is simply the decision process for projects that involve central government funding.

 

[ABB125]

I don’t know whether you are being ironic or not - but just in case not (and for other readers) ... that was of course the process until a couple of years ago.

No, it was a genuine question. Would you say the new process is better than the old one?

 

[Bald Rick]

No, it was a genuine question. Would you say the new process is better than the old one?

Depends which end of the process you are looking at it from.

The new process is unquestionably slower, less flexible, and all decisions are taken by Her Majesty’s Government. To a certain extent that causes inefficiency.

However it does give HMG greater certainty about costs and schedule. It also removes the ORR from most of the process.

 

[ABB125]

Depends which end of the process you are looking at it from.

The new process is unquestionably slower, less flexible, and all decisions are taken by Her Majesty’s Government. To a certain extent that causes inefficiency.

However it does give HMG greater certainty about costs and schedule. It also removes the ORR from most of the process.

Ok, thanks for the information.

 

[deltic08]

The Harrogate capacity enhancement is nearly complete and just needs tamping. One siding reopened after 20 OOU!