Cheaper and greener option must not be cast aside

Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling is probably right that the general public will barely notice the curtailment of the electrification programme.

But he shouldn’t ignore the significant advantages of electric traction over diesel (cheaper fuel, better reliability, better acceleration, quieter, and a reduction in pollution), as well as the extra costs of the bi-mode alternatives (their capital cost compared with straight electric, their extra maintenance, and their extra fuel consumption arising from the extra weight - diesel motors and fuel).

Having been forced into the bi-mode option because of the Great Western Railway electrification delays, it’s now all too easy to find reasons to reduce the scope of the electrification and to downplay the advantages listed above.

The bottom-line cost of the GWR electrification is alarmingly high, but it does contain significant elements that need not be repeated next time.

The planning (described by the Public Accounts Committee as having “serious failings”) must fully take into account the consequences of dealing with potential cable obstructions, listed structures and Electricity at Work Regulations, and where possible these should be engineered out of the critical path.

A significant portion of the additional cost appears to be attributable to the late selection of a more robust OLE (overhead line equipment) system. There must be a good payback on this item which should be taken into account - there were six failures of the older (less robust) OLE system caused by Storm Doris in February.

Surely that is sufficient to ensure the continuation of the electrification programme, albeit on a less ambitious scale? In particular, the all-important benefit of pollution reduction needs to be taken into account - opting out of electrifying Bristol Temple Meads is a retrograde step in this respect.

And why not give the HOPS train an opportunity to redeem itself on the East West Line with a long stretch on a new track bed, which will be free of uncharted live cables and have the option of round-the-clock working?

KIM FULLBROOK. Lessons must be learned from Great Western Main Line electrification delays, says Roger Hand. On March 31, Rail Operations Group 37884, hauling 387144 and 387140, nears Twyford on the GWML with a Bletchley-Reading empty coaching stock move.