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As the funding and provision of transport decentralises, this report gives an overview of the landscape and highlights issues and risks.

The strategic case for HS2, in terms of increasing rail capacity and generating regional growth, has still to be demonstrated clearly.

“more could be done to safeguard the value of properties. Better maintenance, higher occupancy and faster sales would help secure better prices when properties become surplus and are sold”.

The National Audit Office makes a number of recommendations including a need for the Agency to:

“The Highways Agency has done much to improve the condition of England’s motorways and trunk roads over recent years, and its management of continuing maintenance work, particularly in reducing the impact on road users. However, the Agency could do more to prioritise its resources to projects delivering the best outcome in terms of safety and value for money, and to manage costs effectively over a project’s lifetime.

“The disruption to key parts of the road network caused by the adverse weather conditions at the end of January 2003 shows just how important effective maintenance procedures are. The Agency is investigating the causes of the difficulties faced by many drivers at that time, and plans to review its winter maintenance procedures to prevent a recurrence.”

“While some passengers are enjoying the improved facilities and ride provided by new trains, many others are still waiting for their new trains to enter service. And too often the trains turn out to be unreliable in everyday use because they haven’t been sufficiently tested. The Strategic Rail Authority needs to redouble its efforts to help get new trains into service on time and running reliably for the benefit of passengers and the taxpayer.”