Spending watchdog warns Thameslink upgrade faces delay

Date: 5/6/2013

The (NAO) National Audit Office has warned that the Thameslink upgrade may not be delivered in line with its 2018 deadline as a result of problems selecting the trains that will serve the route.

According to the spending watchdog, an agreement reached between the (DfT) Department for Transport and Siemens in 2011 is still waiting to be finalised, while the contract itself was awarded more than a year later then it should have been.

Amyas Morse, Head of the NAO, said: "Our principal concern is around the delay in agreeing the contract to build new trains which raises questions about the feasibility of delivering the whole programme by 2018."

However, a DfT Spokesperson explained that the Department is "confident" of delivering the Thameslink project on time, adding that the apparent delays in the process are simply a result of efforts to ensure the "best deal for the taxpayer" can be secured.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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