Minister: ‘we are very committed to electrification’

Midland main line wires: soon after passing Kettering South Junction No 360116, recently transferred to East Midlands Railway from Greater Anglia, works the 3Y52 Kettering Stabling Sidings to Kentish Town on 14 December 2020. The ‘360s’ are due to enter passenger service in May on St Pancras to Corby duties, taking advantage of the Bedford to Corby electrification which has recently been completed. Mick Alderman

‘WE ARE very committed to electrification’ and the Government’s ambition is ‘to do a lot more electrification’, Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris has told the House of Commons Transport Committee. Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines told a briefing to journalists on 15 December that the organisation had submitted a list of first phase ‘no regrets’ schemes to the Department for Transport for approval.

Mr Heaton-Harris was giving evidence to the committee’s ‘Trains fit for the future’ enquiry. He highlighted the significant tranche of electrification projects delivered by the Government, although he caveated the ambition for more by saying ‘there are costs to this’. ‘We want to get to that point where transport is playing and rail is playing its key part in decarbonisation and the Government’s overall strategy, and there’s a lot to be done’ said Mr Heaton-Harris.

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