Fury After Railway Electrification ‘Paused’

There has been an angry reaction after the government announced it was ‘pausing’ further electrification of the Midland Mainline over cost concerns.

It means the stretch of railway currently being upgraded between Market Harborough and South Wigston will be the last for the foreseeable future.

A spending review has found funds would be better focused on other transport schemes.

Tracks have so-far been upgraded so electric trains can run from London to Leicestershire and the project was set to continue to Sheffield.

Harborough MP Neil O’Brien has been campaigning for the whole line to be electrified since he was elected as an MP in 2017.

He has branded the decision ‘short-sighted’:

As well as providing environmental benefits, the electrification of the whole Midland Mainline would also help cut journey times.

Steve Jones, Chairman of Harborough Rail Users group, is equally disappointed at the decision:

A Government statement said: “The next phase of electrification of the Midland Main Line has been paused.

“Given the existing trains in use on this stretch of railway and the costs and time needed to electrify the route we are focusing our investment on other schemes over the Strategic Review period.

“We will continue to keep the potential for full electrification of the route under review as part of our plans to decarbonise our railways and as funding becomes available in future.”

East Midlands Railway is set to introduce new bi-model trains, that can run on both electric and diesel, later this year.