Vere confirms role for electrification

Electrification will play “a significant role” in Government’s plans to achieve its Net Zero 2050 objective, according to Transport Minister Baroness Vere.

In a Lords Written Reply to Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat) on July 2, she wrote: “The Government is committed to electrification where it delivers benefits for railway users, environmental benefits, and value for money. We have delivered hundreds of miles of electrification since 2010 and we continue to expand the electrified rail network.”

She added that Network Rail was examining which parts of a decarbonised network would be best suited to electrification and which to alternatively powered trains (hydrogen or battery).

“We will consider the case for exploring some electrification schemes more quickly as this work progresses,” she added.