News: Continuing uncertainties over Trans-Pennine electrification

After the government’s ‘unpausing’ on 30th September of the programme to electrify the Trans-Pennine rail line via Huddersfield – see the Network Rail letter here – there is continuing uncertainty over when the work might be completed.

Yorkshire Post  21st October 2015 ” Electrification of the Trans-Pennine rail line connecting Yorkshire and the North West could yet be further delayed, a senior Whitehall official has admitted. Philip Rutnam, the Permant Secretary for the Department for Transport told MPs the final cost of Trans-Pennine electrification and the timescale will not be known until more design work has been completed.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced last month work would restart with Trans-Pennine electrification due to be completed in 2022 rather than 2019 and Midland Mainline finishing in 2023 rather than 2020.”

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Uncertainty also remains about the prospects of Calder Valley line electrification.

Yorkshire Post  9th October 2015 “Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has been accused of making a U-turn over plans to electrify a Yorkshire rail line.The Calder Valley line was identified as a priority for electrification in a report commissioned by the Government before the General Election.However, delays to existing electrification projects raised questions over the timing of future rail investment.

And the Transport Secretary was reluctant to commit the Government to future electrification last week when he set out a new timetable for the completion of the upgrade to the Trans-Pennine and Midland Mainline.”

Read more here