Freedom of Information Request- Metropolitan Line Extension (MLX) (formerly Croxley Rail Link) I have been asked by this Council to request information under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the expenditure (costs) that has been dispersed to date on the MLX project and to establish the current status of the project. The MLX is an important project for the area, and there have been reports of very significant sums of money that has already been spent on the project with no sign of the project coming to fruition. The residents and some businesses of Croxley Green have suffered significant disruption and inconvenience with initial works having been undertaken and the Parish Councillors wish to have detailed information about the project to date in order for matters can be clarified to local residents whom they represent. Accordingly, the Parish Council wish to know: 1. What is the current CRL/MLX project budget?; 2. From that CRL/MLX project budget what expenditure has been incurred to date, to whom and on what?; 3. What is the current status of the project?; 4. Given the status of the project, point 3 above, what expenditure is currently committed and on what?

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TfL Ref: 2414-1718

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 17 November 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. You asked:

1.    From that CRL/MLX project budget, what expenditure has been incurred to date, to whom and on what?

Project total expenditure to date is £69.9m. £32.4m was spent by HCC prior to transfer to us in 2015. Since the scheme transferred to TfL in 2015, TfL has spent £37.5m on the MLX, which includes £15.5m on a new train which is already in service and benefitting Metropolitan line passengers.

TfL’s expenditure in more detail is as follows:

•               Detailed design for the London Underground operational area

•               Design for the Network Rail operational area

•               Site clearance and environmental works

•               Utility diversions

•               Procurement of a new S7+1 train

•               Diversion of legacy signalling equipment

•               Project team resource

•               Project insurance

•               Procurement of long lead equipment

•               Transport and Works Act order

•               Legal agreements

2.    What is the current CRL/MLX project budget?

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

3.    What is the current status of the project?

Please refer to the answer below for both question 3 and 4.

4.    Given the status of the project, point 3 above, what expenditure is currently committed and on what?

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 get to this point, there is now a much greater understanding of the true costs of the project. This shows that the MLX cannot be delivered within the current funding package of £284.4m that was agreed at the time of the transfer to us. Our estimate is that at least an additional £50m will be required on top of this figure. 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. We have therefore asked the Department for Transport (DfT) and the other funding partners to consider alternative arrangements to meet the additional costs.

Transport and Works Act Order powers expire in August 2018. To undertake all of the work necessary to keep the powers in tact before then, TfL will need confirmation of a full funding package and agreement on who will bear the cost risk by the end of this year.

TfL’s original £49.23m contribution remains on the table and the Mayor of London remains supportive of TfL delivering the scheme if funding to cover the additional costs can be agreed within the timescale necessary.

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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