Ministers ‘cynically misled public’ over rail improvements

MINISTERS are facing accusations they “cynically” hid delays to major rail improvement programmes from voters during the General Election campaign.

Labour said documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) made clear ministers were aware as early as last March that “deferrals” to improvement schemes would be required.

The disclosure comes after Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin sparked a political storm last month when he announced the electrification of the Trans-Pennine and Midlands mainline routes was being “paused”.

The Department for Transport (DfT) insisted that Mr McLoughlin had always been open with MPs about the “emerging issues” surrounding the electrification programme.

However, shadow trans- port secretary Michael Dugher said Network Rail board minutes from March 19, released under FoI, indicated minsters were already aware that decisions would be required once the election was out of the way.

The minutes state that Network Rail strategy direc- tor Paul Plummer was due to meet the DfT and the Office of the Rail Regulator, noting: “Decisions were due to be made regarding various key enhancement projects from June”.

Mr Dugher said the documents showed that ministers must have known before the election that vital rail electrification projects would have to be shelved.

“It is becoming increasingly apparent ministers deliberately decided to cynically misled people during the general election,” he said.