Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the value for money delivered by Network Rail’s signalling framework contract approach to procurement taking into account the price for a signalling equivalent unit (SEU) in 2003 compared to projected SEU costs in Control Period 6; and if he will make a statement.

The scope of modern signalling projects has grown considerably since 2003, meaning direct comparisons are not possible. Current projects now encompass telecoms, civil engineering, track and electrification works.

Network Rail’s signalling frameworks are structured geographically and allow signalling suppliers to invest in resources, equipment and processes. As a result of this investment, signalling projects are now among the safest engineering projects carried out on the railway, whilst being delivered more efficiently than ever before.

Today’s projected rate for an SEU in CP6 is estimated at £330k. Taking inflation into account, this is significantly lower in real terms than the £272k SEU value in 2003.