Network Rail has refused to disclose how much compensation was paid to individuals in connection with the Clifton railway bridge replacement.

Network Rail has confirmed it had a budget of £62,878,727 for the Clifton railway bridge replacement that at the start of this month has seen the 60 year old bridge across the M6 demolished two weeks ago, with the new bridge rolled into place across the M6 last Saturday with train services resume along the line on Thursday morning following a 16 day closure.

While Network Rail has provided financial details about the project, including the millions paid to contractors, it has withheld details round compensation payments to it has made individuals.

Network Rail this week confirmed that it holds records of the payments but is refusing to release any figures for compensation payments to individuals, Network Rail said “Disclosure could prejudice Network Rail’s negotiating position, expose risk valuation and lead to inflated claims or higher costs.”

“If we were to make this information publicly available, it would disclose how our organisation values risk, negotiates settlements, and manages liabilities. Public knowledge of compensation payments could lead to inflated or opportunistic claims from others, increasing future liabilities.”

The company did, however, disclose that landowners connected to the project were paid a total including land agent fee’s of £394,783 to Clifton Hall Farm, Lowther Farming Partnership, AW (Jenkinson Forest Products) to cover access to land used for access and construction of the new bridge and a project compound resulting in the land been inaccessible for farming and normal usage by the landowners.

Network Rail also confirmed that no community funding awards have been made as part of the Clifton Rail Bridge project, meaning any financial redress linked to disruption would have been handled solely through compensation arrangements to individuals that remain undisclosed.

Network Rail said “the project has undertaken works in the local community; including STEM 4events and laying a slab at a local school for a new shed to be placed.”

The bridge replacement caused significant local disruption, including full closures of the M6 and the West Coast Main Line during demolition and installation, affecting residents, businesses, and road users across the area.

How many individuals were compensated, how much was paid in total by Network Rail to individuals from the £12million remaining unaccounted for in the £62.9 million budget spend remains unanswered.