The latest edition of Rail carries a report quoting a Network Rail spokesman who stated that the electrified railway would not be ready for passenger use by 14th December, which is when the new timetable starts.
A number of problems have delayed the project, including unexpected abandoned mines around Roby and Huyton, and an incident earlier this year when a worker on a wiring train was injured when wires snapped. Rumours have been circulating for some time, but this is the first admission by Network Rail that completion will be late.
So far, there has been no formal statement from Network Rail.
