During the last control period (CP5) Network Rail delivered the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme, a series of enhancements between Edinburgh and Glasgow, including electrification of the line and the upgrade of Queen Street Station. We reported on progress throughout in our Network Rail Monitor. As part of the contractual arrangements put in place at the time, one of our roles is to decide whether costs incurred were efficient and therefore could be included in the programme's Target Price.
We have used the Independent Reporter (Nichols) to undertake detailed analysis of the electrification costs incurred before the end of 2017, when this element was completed, and we are now publishing their Executive summary. On the basis of the report's findings, ORR considers that no further changes to the Target are justified.
Since 2017 performance on the project has improved significantly and the final element of EGIP, the upgrade of Queen Street Station, has progressed to programme and on budget. In addition the delivery of the remaining electrification portfolio in Scotland also improved and schemes were completed on time or early.
In response to the review Network Rail has set out what lessons were learned from EGIP and the changes they have made to project delivery during CP6.
This report relates to control period 5 (CP5), which covers the period from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2019.