The contractor said it was 鈥渦nlikely鈥 to deliver the North West rail electrification programme 鈥渙n time and to budget鈥 after reviewing the scheme

Railways

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Balfour Beatty has pulled out of a 拢75m rail electrification scheme in the North West after saying it was 鈥渦nlikely鈥 to deliver the work 鈥渙n time and to budget.鈥

The troubled contractor has dropped out of the remaining phases 3-7 on the programme, and confirmed it has stopped work on the Blackpool to Preston rail electrification scheme.

In its half-year results to 26 June 2015, Balfour said that after a review of its rail schemes in the North West, its 鈥減roposed alliance鈥 with Network Rail 鈥渨as unlikely to meet its stated objectives of delivering the scope of the work on time and to budget.

鈥淚n July, it was agreed with Network Rail that Balfour Beatty would not continue with the alliance framework for phases 3-7.鈥

A Network Rail spokesperson said: 鈥淏y mutual agreement, Balfour Beatty will be leaving the partnership delivery of North West Electrification.

鈥淭his is the appropriate time following the completion of phase two between Manchester, Liverpool and Wigan.

鈥淲e will be retaining Balfour Beatty鈥檚 design services and a new contractor will be appointed shortly. A full transition plan is in place to ensure that this work continues.鈥