Maynard: no plans for Hull electrification

Government and Transport for the North are working closely to consider options for Northern Powerhouse rail corridors, but electrification is not necessarily the answer.

That was the message from Rail Minister Paul Maynard, responding on July 3 to two Commons Written Questions from Diana Johnson (Labour, Kingston upon Hull North), who had asked about electrification to Hull and what costs and benefits had been assessed for any scheme post-2023.

Maynard said: “The Department has no current plans to electrify the line.” He added that new trains will serve the route - First Hull Trains and Northern Rail will both introduce new fleets by 2020.

On FHT’s proposals for electrification, Maynard said: “The assessment of the costs and benefits of the First Hull Trains proposal to electrify the route between Hull and Selby applied the standard appraisal period of 60 years for infrastructure projects.

“A wide range of interventions are being considered to achieve this, and as such does not necessarily require electrification.”