Calderdale rail campaigners make new appeal for line electrification
RAIL CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed an announcement by the Prime Minister of enhanced targets for greenhouse gas reductions - but are now calling for action.
The Halifax and District Rail Action Group, along with other rail campaigners, say this is an ideal time to start a programme of rail electrification.
Network Rail’s traction decarbonisation network strategy (TDNS) published in September recommends the majority of at present diesel-only routes should be electrified.
Local rail user groups supporting the Electric Railway
Charter say that rail electrification will pay for itself through reduced costs for train operators as well as by ending rail carbon emissions, and are calling on MPs to press the Department for Transport and Treasury to give the go ahead.
Whilst hailing the new climate target, rail campaigners have described a “perfect storm” of issues, with progress frustrated.
These include the Treasury autumn statement cuts of £1bn from Network Rail’s five-year enhancements budget, which campiagners say threatens improvements badly needed by passengers and freight customers, the urgent need for the Department for Transport to bring out its full decarbonisation strategy and for the Treasury to agree to a rolling programme of rail electrification, and the continuing wait for enhancement projects that were promised years ago, such as the TransPennine Route upgrade.
STEPHEN WARING, Chair of Hadrag said: “A rolling programme of electrification should pay for itself by cutting train operators’ costs.
“Electric trains are cheaper to buy and cheaper to run.
“Our route from Leeds to Manchester and Preston would follow naturally after the Huddersfield line.
“With lots of station stops, the high performance of electric traction will be a big boost.
“We want Transport for the North, regional and local authorities and our MPs to keep up pressure on the Department for Transport and the Treasury.”