West Coast Route Modernisation project

The West Coast Route Modernisation project (WCML) is a major renewal and enhancement programme on significant parts of the West Coast Main Line between London and Glasgow including routes to Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham. The main deliverables, as set out in the SRA’s June 2003 WCRM Strategy document, are improved capacity for passengers and freight and faster journey times between London and key destinations on the route. The key completion date is December 2008 with further potential enhancements during control period 4.

In the Access Charges Review 2003, ORR determined the efficient cost of delivering the project (renewals and enhancements) at £2.8 billion over the five years to 2009 (control period 3), bringing total spend on the project to that date (including the £4.6 billion spent to March 2004) to £7.4 billion.

ORR, together with independent reporters, continues to monitor the delivery of the agreed outputs and the forecasts spend for the end of control period 3. In February 2008, ORR concluded that Network Rail was likely to breach condition 7 of its network licence as it did not have a robust plan to deliver the infrastructure capability for the December 2008 timetable. ORR issued a provisional order requiring Network Rail to produce a plan in consultation with its stakeholders by 31 March 2008.  Network Rail complied with this and is currently working towards the original December 2008 delivery target. Quarterly updates of the current position are published on ORR’s website as part of the Network Rail Monitor.