Letter: Risky railway?

The Scottish Government persists with its ridiculous claim that the M74 extension, at a final cost of £692 million, has come in "under budget".

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Jun 2011, 17:49 BST

Updated 28th Jun 2011, 21:39 BST

The minister for housing and transport argues (Letters, 28 June) that the difference between this outcome and the original estimate of 245m can be explained fully.

It appears that part of the difference arises because the original estimate made no allowance for risk.

Is it safe to assume that lessons have now been learnt and that the current estimate of 295m for the Borders railway does allow fully for the inherent risks of the project?

Or would it be safer to treble that number in order to arrive at a glitch-adjusted estimate?

Adrian FitzGerald

Howgate

By Penicuik, Midlothian