Region. Delay on train contract

Manufacturing and testing delays have been blamed for a Newcastle train builder, United Rail, being $11 million over-budget and three years behind schedule with the first two stages of the major Outer Suburban rail contract. Stage one for 41 rail cars came in on budget at $171 million but it was 36 months behind schedule. There has been an 11-month delay in the completion of stage two for 81 rail cars, with the final bill now tallying $279 million, according to the NSW auditor-general, Peter Achterstraat. United recently began work on the third stage which is due for completion in 2012, said ABC News..