Progress in delivering the Thameslink programme - Public Accounts Committee Contents


Summary

The Department for Transport (the Department) has done well so far to deliver the first phase of the Thameslink infrastructure project to time and under budget. However, progress in securing new trains and letting a new franchise to run the route has been much less encouraging. The award of a £1.6 billion PFI contract for new trains was delayed by over three years, and the Department made changes to its plans for the franchise very late in the day. Prior to 2013 the Department's approach to letting the franchise to operate the new service was not joined up with the rest of the Thameslink programme, highlighting weaknesses in the Department's programme management capability. We remain concerned about the Department's skills and capacity to complete Thameslink by 2018, alongside its ambitious wider portfolio of programmes and projects.



 
previous page contents next page

House of Commons home page Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries index

© Parliamentary copyright 2013
Prepared 29 October 2013