AS RAIL CHIEFS BICKER AMONG THEMSELVES
Present were ScotRail, Network Rail, which is in charge of track and signals, and Transport Scotland.
In the opening remarks, the February EGIP board meeting is re-capped – at which it was stated the project “continues to make good progress”.
Yet just three months later, bosses admitted: “Looking back at this statement, given the significant change in both cost and programme now being articulated by Network Rail, this is now a decidedly uncomfortable place to be.”
The minutes suggest a robust exchange took place around the central question of “how could a five-month delay and significant cost increase have arisen so suddenly and without warning?”
One side tries to blame winter weather last year, as well as changes to electrification safety standards.
However, another side in the meeting hit back, saying the safety changes were “not a sudden change” and the change in electrification standards has been known about “for a number of years”.
The minutes record one party hitting back at the suggestion Network Rail was entirely to blame.
The author of the comments are redacted but The Sunday Post has established they came from a representative of Network Rail.
The unnamed representative said: “In hindsight, the EGIP alliance is compromised/flawed by conflict and internal animosity between the partners and the delivery programme is not coming together as it should.”
A Network Rail spokesman said: “We are working closely with Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government to deliver the EGIP as quickly and cost-effectively as possible for the taxpayer.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “At the heart of our £5bn improvements programme is an underlying need to provide best value for the public purse while delivering a first-class service.
“This has clearly not been delivered and that is why we instigated a full and urgent review into all of our major rail projects.
“Until full devolution of rail powers, the Scottish Government is constrained to working within the limited powers at their disposal.”