Here we go

I wouldn't be surprised if it was knocked on the head altogether. (Ever the cynic!).

I know a lot of money has been spent on it already, but it didn't save the Northern Line Extensions all those years ago, which had a lot of money spent and subsequently wasted, did it?

The trouble is that the UK governement doesn't realise the reason why Rail projects cost so much in the UK is the political risk associated with them . The industry structure keeps changing, the concept of who is in control and who does the work changes, its nuts . Even somewhere like Thailand probably has less political risk on Rail infrastructure jobs than the UK.

I don't see McNulty coming back and reporting that the reason why the UK costs are so high are meddling civil servants and Government changes and interference though ! Obviously he'll blame it on DFT's favorite Targets ROSCOs and Civil contractors !

The key to lower costs is that when you enter a contract as the Government you honor it. Thats what happens here , pity the UK has been run for the last 14 years by people with no honor.

In 1929, Phillip Burtt wrote in his book "Railway Electrification and Traffic Problems", that "the cost of constructing railways in England has been higher than in any other country in the world". Later, quoting £54,000 per mile cost per new double track line pre-1914, he says, "There is hardly another country in Europe where the cost comes up to more than half that amount". The equivalent cost today would be £24million. He quotes the legal costs of promotion and the high cost of land "extorted by powerful landowners" as the main reasons for the high costs.

He also quotes the all-up cost of building tube lines as £750,000/mile. This would be £182million today. The JLE extension cost £220million/mile.

Nope, too long out of blighty , beginning to spell like a foreigner now !