Train deal is just the ticket

IT

MAY not feel like it if you have spent yet another week crushed up against fellow commuters in a cramped carriage but the rail network is undergoing something of a renaissance.

While Labour did virtually nothing to upgrade the network when in power, the Government is investing billions into electrification projects across the country.

Electrification comes with a hefty price tag but there can be little doubt this is a wise investment for the future.

Electric trains are faster, quieter, lower on emissions and easier on the track than their outdated diesel counterparts.

For the train fi rms that means lower operating costs and for passengers it means faster and more frequent services.

The Government should be applauded for laying the foundations for a rail network fit for the 21st century.

Within seven years this multi-billion-pound investment will have created an extra 180,000 seats during peak time, slashed network carbon emissions by a quarter and reduced the annual cost of running the system by £1.3billion.

Provided those lower running costs are passed down to users, Britons may once more celebrate a journey by rail rather than treat train trips like an expensive physical endurance test.

This rail renaissance may take time but it is worth the wait.