A £44 million busway dispute was taken to a judge today, 25 November 2011, after the promoters and the builders fell out.

The wrangle at the Technology and Construction Court between Cambridgeshire County Council and BAM Nuttall is over who is to blame for the project costing more than it should.

Mr Justice Ramsey said the case would not be tried in court until January 2014, more than two years from now, but there would be a series of court hearings during that time involving lawyers and expert witnesses.

Unfortunately the court will not look into whether it was right or wrong to rip up the Cambridge to St Ives railway to make way for the busway.

At today's hearing, Stephen Furst QC, for Cambridgeshire, said he would provide a clear list of defects and the cost of rectifying them for the court by January.

Marcus Taverner QC, for BAM Nuttall, told the judge it was not apparent exactly what amounts the council was claiming and for which alleged defects.

The busway was initially expected to cost £86 million but by the time the contract was let the price was £116 million, although it was estimated in 2010 that the final cost could be more than £200 million. In addition, there will be legal costs to be found.

Before it was built, there were 2,700 objections to the busway inquiry with only four in favour. Most people wanted the rail line reopened.

It is likely that the cost of reopening the railway would have been a fraction of this amount. A similar rail route at Ebbw Vale was reopened for £30million in 2008.

Work began on the busway in 2007 and it should have opened in 2009. It finally opened this year.

The Technology and Construction Court – formerly known as the Official Referees’ Court – is a sub-division of the Queen's Bench Division, part of the High Court of Justice.