THE transport secretary Philip Hammond has named some more rail schemes which have survived the budget cuts. However, his list makes no mention of several key projects, such as new rolling stock for Thameslink.

Fresh doubt has also appeared about the prospects for the Midland Metro extension.

Mr Hammond's statement to Parliament was more concerned with road schemes. In addition, councils have been invited to bid for a share of a £600 million pot for local transport projects, although they are also being ‘challenged’ to fund such projects from their own resources if they can.

Mr Hammond named two rail schemes for which funding will be provided in January, but only after the sponsoring authorities have provided a ‘best and final’ submission. The schemes are the extension to Midland Metro, which was also named in the Chancellor’s Comprehensive Spending Review last week, and a new southern entrance to Leeds station.

Other schemes which will have to compete for a share in the £600m pot include the Croxley Rail Link in Hertfordshire, which would extend the Metropolitan Line to Watford Junction.

The extension to Midland Metro through Birmingham city centre, which was apparently approved in the Chancellor’s Comprehensive Spending Review last week, now appears to depend on the successful provision of a ‘best and final offer’ from Centro. Assuming that this is accepted, funding would be provided in January.

As this statement was mainly concerned with road schemes, the industry is still uncertain about the prospects for Intercity Express, rolling stock for Thameslink and other routes, and main line electrification. 

It had been rumoured recently that the Midland Main Line had taken over from Great Western as the main line most likely to be electrified next.

There was some accompanying good news from Network Rail, which believes that the Swindon-Kemble redoubling can still go ahead, although it will be seeking to cut some costs.
 

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