I’d like to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the Metropolitan Line Extension. Please provide 1. Total costs since project inception 2. Costs incurred since indicative funding approval in March 2015 3. Costs incurred since the latest cost escalation of 50m 4. Current budget allocations to the project Costings should include consultancy costs, officer time, land acquisitions, preparatory works etc

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TfL Ref: 1662-1718 

 

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 27 September 2017 asking for information about the Metropolitan Line Extension (MLX). 

 

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. 

 

The project to divert and extend the Metropolitan line from just north of Croxley to Watford Junction via two new stations at Cassiobridge and Watford Vicarage Road was promoted and was originally being delivered by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC).  

 

In 2015, TfL was asked to take over delivery from HCC due to the rise in costs and programme slippage. The MLX scheme formally transferred to TfL in November 2015, with an agreed funding package of £284.4m, which included a contribution of £49.23million from TfL.   

 

Since transfer, the scheme design has progressed considerably and is ready to move in to the delivery phase. As a result of the work TfL has been doing to complete the detailed designs, there is now a much greater understanding of the true costs of the project. The scheme cannot be delivered within the funding package of £284.4m agreed at the time of transfer in 2015, and at least £50m more will be required. This rise in costs is not because of a change in scope, but is a reflection of what the market is telling us.  

 

TfL is unable to cover the costs above the agreed funding package, particularly in the context of the Government’s removal of TfL’s operating grant. Other funders would need to consider alternative funding arrangements to meet the additional costs of the scheme. Until then, TfL’s contribution towards the current funding package remains on the table.  

 

To answer your specific questions in turn: 

 

1.         Total costs since project inception 

 

The total costs (by which we are assuming to be spend) to date is £71.2m, of which £32.4m was spent by HCC prior to transfer to us in 2015.  

 

2.         Costs incurred since indicative funding approval in March 2015 

 

Since the scheme transferred to TfL in 2015 with the agreed funding package of £284.4m, TfL has spent £38.8m on the MLX, which includes £15.5m on a new train which is already in service and Metropolitan line passengers are benefitting from.  

 

3.         Costs incurred since the latest cost escalation of 50m 

 

Since March 2017, TfL has spent £2,305,888. This work continued despite the funding gap being known, as TfL was under contract for the design work.  

 

4.         Current budget allocations to the project 

 

The funding allocated to the MLX as per the 2015 funding agreement is as follows: 

 

Funding partner	£m
Department for Transport	109.82
Transport for London	49.23
Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership	87.85
HCC & Watford Borough Council	37.5
TOTAL	284.4

 

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

 

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.  

 

Yours sincerely  

 

Sara Thomas 

FOI Case Management Team 

General Counsel 

Transport for London 

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