Plans for the £742 million Edinburgh to Glasgow electrification project are being reviewed after it was revealed the scheme is behind schedule and could cost more than anticipated.

The Network Rail initiative is being funded by Transport Scotland and aims to increase capacity on the main Edinburgh - Glasgow railway line for an incoming fleet of electric trains.

However, the Office of Rail and Road's (ORR) analysis states the scheme is unlikely to complete its key obligation by December this year, with electric services now not scheduled to run until July 2017.

ORR's Chief Executive Joanna Whittington said: "Network Rail has successfully delivered some major enhancement projects in the past year, including Scotland’s first new rail line in over 100 years, the Borders Railway. However, there are cost and delivery issues on other projects which need to be addressed.

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"Over the course of the next year, we need to see evidence that Network Rail’s initiatives are delivering financial efficiencies and noticeable performance improvements for passengers while achieving gains in health and safety."

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has now instructed Transport Scotland officials to undertake a review of the programme, stating he was "very concerned and disappointed" with Network Rail's latest programme assessment for Scotland.

"Of particular concern, Network Rail has informed Transport Scotland that the Edinburgh-Glasgow line will not be running electric services until July 2017. This is seven months later than scheduled and seven months later than they advised ministers two months ago.  This will also increase the cost of the project beyond the previous £742 million estimate. Network Rail’s  cost estimates for a number of other major projects which are at earlier stages of delivery have also increased.  Moreover, progress on other projects has also been slower than expected.

"I am not prepared to simply accept the long-term cost implications, nor the revised programmes that Network Rail have set out. I will also be doing everything possible to ensure that Network Rail deliver the full programme in Scotland by March 2019 and without any extra funding from the Scottish Government."

(LM/CD)