Annex 3: Quantitative

Questionnaire
Assessment of unit costs (standard prices) of rail projects (Capital
Expenses)
1. Introduction
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and COWI are currently supporting the European Commission,
Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) on the assessment of unit
costs (standard prices) of rail projects (Capital Expenses).
The primary aim of the project is to evaluate standard prices (unit costs) in the rail sector. This
evaluation will assess the costs of projects in rail across the 26 Member States with rail systems of
the European Union. The project will provide input to decision-makers for high-level evaluation of
the costs of rail infrastructure programs and projects and assist authorities in charge of rail
infrastructure programs and projects to communicate effectively to a wider set of stakeholders
about project cost.
Support from stakeholders is a key element for the success of the project.
The aim of the Stakeholder Consultations (SC) is to collect information on the factors
influencing rail infrastructure investments, on the technical characteristics of the rail
infrastructure projects as well as on the estimated and final cost of stated projects. The data
collected will be used for the elaboration of a methodological approach and for the identification
and calculation the unit cost in rail infrastructure projects.
Specifically, the SC is functional to collect:
 Qualitative information on the external factors influencing cost in the rail
infrastructure projects;
 Quantitative information on technical characteristics and costs of rail infrastructure
projects in EU.
Attached to the invitation e-mail you can find:
 A link to the online questionnaire on the external factors influencing cost in the rail
infrastructure projects;
 The list of projects for which the data is collected (see attached: UCR_list of
projects_country.doc),
 An excel questionnaire for each project included in the list, to be completed with
the relevant technical characteristics and costs information of the project.
We would kindly ask you to:
 Fill-in in the online questionnaire;
 Send back to us the list of projects including a reference person for each of them;
 Fill-in each excel questionnaire you received with the information on technical
characteristics and costs of each project, based on the following instructions.
2. Instructions for completing the excel
questionnaires
Within the excel questionnaires, the required information has been classified into three
different tiers, corresponding to progressive level of detail. For each level, both estimated costs
(reported in the feasibility study or assessed in the planning & design phase) and final costs
(reported in the contracts) are required.
The questionnaire consists of nine consecutive sheets:
1. Cover page
2. Instructions
3. Tier 1
4. Tier 2
5. Tier 3 – Earthworks
6. Tier 3 – Equipment
7. Tier 3 – Tunnels
8. Tier 3 – Bridges
9. Tier 3 – Viaducts
Detailed instructions on which information should be provided in each sheet are included in the sheet itself.
The following figures outlined the structure of each sheet to facilitate the completion of the information.

2.1. Sheet 3: Tier 1

General characteristics of the project

Tier 1
General characteristics

CCI Project Num ber

Country

Project nam e

Railway line

Mileage of the project

Nam e of the Infrastructure

Manager

Start Construction (y ear) yyyy

End Construction (y ear) y y y y (ex pected)

First breakdown of total estimated and final costs of the project
Tier 1
Costs
Base
Estim ated Costs Base Y ear_Final
Category Y ear_Estim ated Estim ated Costs Final Costs
Data Source* Costs
Costs
Information to be
Type of document Y ear M€ Y ear M€
included
T otal
inv estm ent M€0 M€0
costs
Planning &
M€0 M€0
Design

Construction M€0 M€0

Ancillary M€0 M€0

First breakdown of technical characteristics of the project
Tier 1
Technical characteristics
Category Inform ation to be included

Line categories

T rack gauge

Length [km]

New line
Total km of new line deploy ed within the project [km]
Mileage of subsections where new line is deploy ed
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
Rehabilitation & Upgrading
Total km of rehabilitated & upgraded line [km]
Mileage of subsections where rehabilitation & upgrading works are carried out
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
T y pe of work
Signalling
Total km of line equipped with signalling sy stem [km]
Mileage of subsections equipped with signalling sy stem
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
Electrification
Total km of electrified line [km]
Mileage of subsections equipped with electrification
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
Design param eters:

Design Speed

Max . Slope

Energy

Max Ax ial Load

Single
Total km of single-track line [km]
Mileage of single-track subsections
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
Double
Total km of double-track line [km]
Number of tracks Mileage of double-track subsections
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
Other (please specify )
Total km of line with the specified number of tracks [km]
Mileage of subsections with the specified number of tracks
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
Tier 1
Technical characteristics
Category Inform ation to be included

T rain length allowed (in

[m]
case of single track)

Num ber of turnouts/

[#]
switches

Rural
Total km of line in rural env ironment [km]
Mileage of rural subsections
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
Predom inant env ironm ent
Urban
Total km of line in urban env ironment [km]
Mileage of urban subsections
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
Mountainous (higher than 600 m abov e sea lev el)
Total km of line on mountainous terrain [km]
Mileage of the subsections on mountainous terrain
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
Hilly (200 - 600 m abov e sea lev el)
Total km of line on hilly terrain [km]
T errain Mileage of the subsections on hilly terrain
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]
Flat (lower than 200 m abov e sea lev el)
Total m of line on flat terrain [km]
Mileage of the subsections on flat terrain
(please indicate the start and the end kilometric point for each subsection)
[i.e. from km x .x x to km y .y y ]

Hy dro-geology and geotechnics issues that sensibly impact the costs of the project, i.e.
Predom inant Hy dro- high or low groundwater lev els, water flows with necessity of siphons, water
Geology & Geotechnics management, low bearing foundation ground, landslide risk to mitigate, managing of the
railway ditch sy stem, etc.

Env ironm ental Crossing/affecting protected areas, gorges, water springs and the like and in case of
Constraints Tunnels also for the relev ant disposal of their mucking

Any relev ant factors sensibly impacting the costs of the project, e.g. critical occurrence
Other constraints
of suitable construction materials, namely for embankment and/or aggregates, etc.
2.2. Sheet 4: Tier 2

Breakdown of Construction and Ancillary Costs

Tier 2
Costs
Category Cost
Civil Engineering Works - Civil Engeneering Works Total Costs [M€]
Tunnels - Tunnels Total Costs [M€]

Bridges - Bridges Total Costs [M€]

Viaducts - Viaducts Total Costs [M€]

Construction

Minor/Hydraulic structures - Minor and Hydraulic structures Total Costs [M€]

Earthworks - Earthworks Total Costs [M€]

Interferences/Interfaces
- Interferences and Interfaces Total Costs [M€]
(roads and other)
Stations, Yards and
- Stations Y ards and Structures Total Costs [M€]
Structures
Superstructure - Equipment Total Costs [M€]
Indirects - Indirects Total Costs [M€]
Project Management and
Ancillary

- Project management and supervision Total Costs [M€]

Supervision

Contingencies - Contingencies Total Costs [M€]

Land acquisition - Land acquisition Total Costs [M€]

Technical characteristics related to Construction works and Ancillary

Tier 2
Technical characteristics
Category Information to be included
Civil Engineering Works
Tunnels number [#]
Tunnels
Tunnels total length [km]
Bridges number [#]
Bridges
Bridges Total Length [km]
Viaducts Number [#]
Viaducts
Viaducts Total Lenght [km]
Construction

Minor/Hydraulic structures Number [#]

Minor/Hydraulic structures Type: pipe, box, small bridge, etc
Minor/Hydraulic structures
Minor/Hydraulic structures Functions: culvert, underpass,
mixed, etc
Earthworks Earthworks total length [km]
Interferences/Interfaces Number of interfaces [#]
(roads and others) Length of interfaces [km]

Stations, Yards and Structures Number of stations [#]

Superstructure

Ancillary Type of ancillary works

2.3. Sheet 5: Tier 3 – Earthworks

Breakdown of costs for earthworks

Tier 3
Costs
Category Costs
Civil Engineering Works

Ground Level - Ground Level Cost [M€]

Construction

Cuttings - Cuttings Cost [M€]

Embankments - Embankments Cost [M€]

Technical characteristics of earthworks

Tier 3
Technical characteristics
Category Information to be included

Ground Level Length [km]

Civil Engineering Works

Mileage of the subsections where earthworks at ground level

Construction

are carried out [i.e. from km x.xx to km y.yy]

Cuttings Length [km]
Mileage of the subsections where cuttings are carried out [i.e.
Earthworks
from km x.xx to km y.yy]
Cuttings Heigth [m]
Cuttings Predominant Material: rock, soil, clay, etc
Embankments Length [km]
Mileage of the subsections where embankments are carried
out [i.e. from km x.xx to km y.yy]
Embankments Height [m]

2.4. Sheet 6: Tier 3 – Superstructure

Breakdown of costs of superstructure

Tier 3
Costs
Category Costs
Permanent way - Permanent Way Cost [M€]
Superstructure
Construction

Power supply, distribution

- Power supply, distribution and OCL Cost [M€]
and OCL

Signalling & Safety - Signalling & Safety Cost [M€]

Telecommunication & PAS - Telecommunication & PAS Cost [M€]

Fencing, Noise barriers, etc - Fencing, Noise barriers, etc Cost [M€]
Technical characteristics of superstrucuture
Tier 3
Technical characteristics
Category Information to be included
Permanent way typology: Ballasted/Slab Track
Permanent Way
Permanent way length [km]
Superstructure
Construction

Power supply, distribution and Voltage [kV]

OCL
Power supply, distribution and OCL total length [km]

Signalling & Safety Systems Signalling & Safety Systems length [km]

Telecommunication & PAS Telecommunication & PAS length [km]

Fencing, Noise barriers, etc Fencing, Noise barriers, etc lenth [km]

2.5. Sheet 7: Tier 3 – Tunnels

Breakdown of costs for Tunnels

Tier 3
Costs
Category Costs
Civil Engineering
Construction

Works

Tunnel 1
- Tunnel 1 Cost [M€]
(Tunnel 2..)

Technical characteristics of Tunnels

Tier 3
Technical characteristics
Category Information to be included
Tunnel 1 Length [m]
Tinnel 1 Mileage [i.e. from km x.xx to km y.yy]
Civil Engineering
Construction

For circular tunnel: Diameter [m]

For non-circular tunnel: cross-section area [m 2 ]
Works

Tunnel 1 Envisaged construction method:

(Tunnel 2..)
2.6. Sheet 8: Tier 3 – Bridges

Costs for bridges

Tier 3
Costs
Category Costs
Civil Engineering Works
Construction

Bridge 1
- Bridge 1 Cost [M€]
(Bridge 2..)

Technical characteristics for bridges

Tier 3
Technical characteristics
Category Information to be included
Bridge 1 Length [m]
Bridge Mileage [i.e. from km x.xx to km y.yy]
Civil Engineering Works

Bridge 1 Height [m]

Bridge 1 Type: Steel/Concrete
Construction

Bridge 1 Typology:

Bridge 1
(Bridge 2..)

Bridge 1 Span [m]

Bridge 1 foundations difficulty level [high, medium, low]
2.7. Sheet 9: Tier 3 – Viaducts

Costs for viaducts

Tier 3
Costs
Construction

Category Costs
Engineering

Viaduct 1
Civil

- Viaduct 1 Cost [M€]

(Viaduct 2..)

Technical characteristics of viaducts

Tier 3
Technical characteristics
Construction

Category Information to be included

Viaduct 1 Length [m]
Engineering

Viaduct Mileage [i.e. from km x.xx to km y.yy]

Viaduct 1
Civil

Viaduct 1 Height [m]

(Viaduct 2..) Viaduct 1 Type: Steel/Concrete
Viaduct 1 Span [m]
Viaduct 1 foundations difficulty level [high, medium, low]
3. Definitions
Technical characteristics description:
 Urban areas: contiguous built-up areas where houses are typically not more than 200 m apart
(discounting rivers, parks, roads, industrial fields, etc.);

 Rural areas: non-urban areas;

 Terrain: is intended as the main terrain typology crossed by the infrastructure;

 Mountainous: terrain located 600 mt above the sea level;
 Hilly: terrain located between 200 and 600 mt above the sea level;
 Flat: terrain located below 200 mt above the sea level;
 Bridge typology:
 Beam: bridge spans supported by an abutment or pier at each end;
 Cantilever: bridge built using cantilevers;
 Arch: bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch;
 Suspension: bridge in which the deck (the load-bearing portion) is hung below suspension
cables on vertical suspenders;
 Cable stay: bridge with one or more towers (or pylons), from which cables support the bridge
deck;
 Truss: bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of
connected elements usually forming triangular units;

 Foundations difficulty levels:

 High: foundation soil of low bearing capacity requiring indirect foundations i.e. by piles,
sensible impacts of works for foundations on total construction costs of the structure (i.e.
bridge or viaduct) e.g. cost for works related to foundations > 30% of total structure
construction costs;
 Medium: foundation soil of medium bearing capacity allowing for direct foundations of large
dimensions and/or in the running water of rivers and the like, costs for work related to
foundations have a lower impact on total structure construction costs e.g. 20 - 30%;
 Low: Foundation soil of good/very good bearing capacity allowing for direct foundations of
limited/reasonable dimensions, impact of works related to foundations on total structure
construction costs e.g. < 20%.

Cost categories description:

 Estimated costs: Costs provided in the Application Form or other preliminary documents N.B:
Please, specify if derived from the Feasibility Study or determined in the design phase

 Final costs: Costs included in the construction contracts

 Total cost: Includes the costs paid for Planning and Design, Construction and the Ancillary costs.

 Planning and Design costs: Include costs related to opportunity study, preliminary design,
feasibility study, and final/detailed design.

 Construction costs: costs for the construction of main project components. It is presented in the
project applications as well as reported in final implementation reports. They consist of several
categories that are relevant for unit cost evaluations:
  Civil Engineering Works Costs: costs related to different categories, such as Tunnels, Bridges,
Viaducts, Minor/Hydraulic structures, and Earthworks.
 Tunnels Costs: Include total costs related to the construction of construction of the tunnel. i.e.
the cost of the permanent way and equipment of the railway line passing thorugh the tunnel
should be excluded;
 Bridges and viaducts Costs: total construction cost of each bridge and viaduct. The cost of the
permanent way and equipment of the railway line passing through the structure should be
excluded ;
 Minor/Hydraulic structures Costs: Include costs related to the minor/hydraulic structures such
as pipes, boxes, small bridges, etc.;
 Earthworks Costs: Include costs related to tracking, roading, cleanfill sites, cut and fill
operations, quarrying/ mining and transport and re-contouring, subcategorised as follows:
o Ground level Costs: Include costs related to soil levelling and compaction;
o Cuttings Costs: Include costs related to the cutting out of soil or rock along the railway line;
o Embankments Costs: Include costs related to the creation of embankments layer of compacted
soil that avoid changes in level required by the terrain along the railway line.

 Interferences/Interfaces (roads and other) Costs: Include costs related to access way for
passengers and goods, including access by road and access for passengers arriving or departing
on foot.
 Stations, Yards and Structures Costs: Include only costs related to the infrastructure (Station
Yard included), i.e. costs related to the commercial activities are excluded as well as cost of the
permanent way and the equipment of the railway line passing through the station.
 Superstructure Costs: costs related to Permanent way, Power supply, distribution and OCL,
Signalling and Safety, Telecommunication and PAS, Fencing and Noise barriers, etc.
o Permanent Way Costs: Include costs related to subgrade, ballast, sleepers, rails and
fastenings, switches/turnouts and related assembly, tune up and finishing operations;
o Power supply, distribution and OCL Costs: Include costs related to the whole
electrification system, thus also to OCL (Overhead Contact Line);
o Signalling and Safety Costs: Include costs related to the equipment installed on the
track, stations/control points for managing the train movement and for guaranteeing
that passengers and freight can be transported with as low risk as possible;
o Telecommunication and PAS Costs: Include costs for telecommunications and Public
Address System installations on the open track, in stations and in marshalling yards;
o Fencing, noise barriers, etc. Costs: Include costs to protective barriers, doors, or
windows.

 Ancillary Costs: include costs that do not belong to any of the previously stated categories, but have
significant influence on the total project cost:
 Indirect Costs: Other costs that can be attributed to the project;
 Project management and supervision Costs;
 Contingencies;
 Land acquisition.