Conservative admin would offer smaller schemes

Rail contractors would be offered immediate, smaller schemes rather than “grand projects” under a Conservative administration, according to shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling.

He told delegates the party would switch the emphasis from large-scale projects, outlined in the government’s 10-Year Transport Plan, to smaller and quicker schemes to address the immediate problems with capacity on the network.

“The immediate answer to addressing capacity constraints on the rail network lies in small schemes and not grand projects,” said Grayling.

He also raised concerns that “virtually all of the projects set out in the 10-year plan, and the subsequent Strategic Rail Authority’s strategic plans to deal with capacity problems seem to have disappeared into the ether”.

Network Rail also came in for stiff criticism. “I have a high regard for John Armitt [chief executive] and his management team. But I have been told time and time again by people in and around the industry that the company has yet to bring costs under control and that we should be seeing much better value for the money.”

The exact transport spending plans from the opposition won’t be announced until next year’s Comprehensive Spending Review.