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Concern over rail works deadline Major rail work behind schedule
(40 minutes later)
Network Rail has serious concerns that it will fail to meet the deadline to finish work on the West Coast Main Line by December, the BBC has learned. Network Rail is nearly two weeks behind schedule on work to the West Coast Main Line due to be finished by December, the BBC has learned.
The rail infrastructure company has rejected the idea of putting completion of £750m of work back to May 2009. It is asking train companies for extra track closures for 13 weekends in the summer, on top of those planned for Easter and bank holidays.
Instead, it is asking train companies for extra track closures on top of those planned for holiday periods. The rail infrastructure company has rejected putting completion of £750m worth of work back to May 2009.
It comes as the rail regulator is set to fine Network Rail for late work at Rugby, Liverpool Street and Glasgow. It comes as Network Rail faces a record fine of up to £15m for late work.
Faster timesFaster times
The December 2008 deadline for finishing the West Coast rebuild has been in Network Rail's diary for years.The December 2008 deadline for finishing the West Coast rebuild has been in Network Rail's diary for years.
The operations of 12 train companies depend on the project, including Virgin which is planning to launch a major marketing campaign in November to sell the faster journey times it will allow.The operations of 12 train companies depend on the project, including Virgin which is planning to launch a major marketing campaign in November to sell the faster journey times it will allow.
Senior Network Rail sources have told the BBC that at one point the company was considering the later completion date, but it believed that was unacceptable. Network Rail's chief executive Iain Coucher told the BBC work in the Rugby area was 315 hours behind schedule.
The company is now trying to find ways of speeding up the work, which is likely to mean extra track closures.
Crucial sections of the line are already scheduled to be shut down during Easter and bank holidays.Crucial sections of the line are already scheduled to be shut down during Easter and bank holidays.
Extra days Mr Coucher said he was looking at closing the tracks from Saturday lunchtime to Sunday lunchtime on 13 weekends over the summer.
The Office of Rail Regulation will fine Network Rail for three serious engineering overruns over the Christmas and New Year period on Thursday. Record fine
The most serious was on the West Coast Main Line at Rugby where the work should have been finished by the end of December 30 but went on for an extra four days. Meanwhile, the Office of Rail Regulation is due to fine Network Rail for three serious engineering overruns over the Christmas and New Year period.
The fine, due to be announced later, is expected to be between £10m and £15m.
The most serious overruns was on the West Coast Main Line at Rugby where the work should have been finished by the end of December 30 but went on for an extra four days.
At London's Liverpool Street station severe disruption was caused to services then run by the One train company, now operated by National Express East Anglia.At London's Liverpool Street station severe disruption was caused to services then run by the One train company, now operated by National Express East Anglia.
Late engineering works at Shields junction, near Glasgow, affected ScotRail services.Late engineering works at Shields junction, near Glasgow, affected ScotRail services.
The regulator will reveal the findings of an investigation into the incidents, which will include a review of Network Rail's engineering practices.The regulator will reveal the findings of an investigation into the incidents, which will include a review of Network Rail's engineering practices.