Her Majesties Government in its infinite wisdom after years of promising major upgrades three main rail lines by electrifying them – have withdrawn the plans to electrify the lines.
Paddington Station. Don’t expect to catch an all-electric train between here and Swansea – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
The lines affected include:
- The Midland Main Line (connecting Kettering, Nottingham and Sheffield)
- The South Wales Main Line (between Cardiff and Swansea)
- The Windermere line (between Windermere and Oxenholme – 10 miles)
How does the Government dress this up? As an upgrade.
Department of Transport Release. Best bit of doublespeak going on out there. See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-improvements-for-rail-passengers-in-wales-the-midlands-and-the-north for the comedy.
Instead of biting the bullet and paying the harder, long game of electrification, the government is going to the easy option of procuring bi-mode (diesel and electric) rolling stock.
Chris Grayling, Department of Transport states:
We are making the biggest investment in the railways since the Victorian era and upgrading services across the country, including in Wales, the midlands and the north.
Passengers expect and deserve high quality rail services and we are committed to using the best available technology for each part of the network, delivering significant benefits for those who use our railways.
Whilst the use of bi-modes can be justified on shorter lines such as the Windermere and Oxenholme line, on longer lines – questions must be asked. The Bedford to Sheffield segment is over 100 long (with two major division between the line serving Nottingham and Derby), whilst the electrified segment is a mere 55 miles – that means that a train has to carry around both electric train propulsion as well diesel fuelled equipment.
The fact that part of this line between Chesterfield and Sheffield will have to be electrified due to HS2 is completely beside the point (and in effect – turning the Midland Main Line into an infill scheme).
Meanwhile, Cardiff to Swansea represents over 40 miles of route that will not be electrified. The Government is arguing the incoming Intercity Express Train (the Class 800) will for-fill that function.
Whilst the rail industry can take its fair share of the blame – the spiralling cost of electrifying the Great Western Main Line has not helped matters in the least.
Whilst new trains will be coming to these lines – they will more likely than not be heavier, polluting and ultimately not deliver some of the benefits electrification can bring.
There will be political fall-out from this. Electrification of the South Wales Main Line was promised in 2012 as part of the Great Western Main Line upgrade, where ministers will have to accountable for the promises made… and broken.
References:
- http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/policy/single-view/view/sheffield-swansea-and-windermere-electrification-cancelled.html
- http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/britain-cancels-major-electrification-projects.html
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40669869
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