HS2

Labour slams ‘disgraceful’ U-Turn on electrification projects

The recent cancellation of multiple electrification projects will lead to longer journeys, a higher cost of running the network and have a detrimental effect on the UK’s carbon emissions, the Labour Party has argued.

In a statement, shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said that the decision to slash the projects will mean that journey times will be considerably lengthened, including between Manchester and Liverpool where it could increase by nearly half an hour, and between Leeds and Newcastle by over 20 minutes.

Following the announcement, the government took heavy criticism from mayors in the north of England, who were unhappy that the projects had been scrapped just as Chris Grayling put his backing behind Crossrail 2.

When the cancellation of the projects was announced, the transport secretary argued that they were no longer necessary due to the provision of new bi-mode trains that could run on both electrified and normal network track.

But McDonald argued that the continued use of diesel trains means that the benefits of electrification to improving the environment will not be felt – as electrification can cut C02 emissions by over 20%-30% compared with using diesel trains.

He said that the government’s “disgraceful” U-Turn on their promise to deliver electrification on the Midland Mainline, TransPennine and Great Western routes will threaten economic growth in these areas.

“Pulling the plug on electrification shows the Tories’ disregard for Wales and Yorkshire, which will continue to suffer from underinvestment, and proves the Midlands engine and the northern powerhouse are just more empty slogans from this government,” McDonald explained.

“The Tories are trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes by claiming that diesel bi-mode trains will deliver the same benefits as electrification, despite saying for years that failure to electrify the network costs more in the long run, causes more pollution, worsens air quality, lessens capacity and makes services slower and less reliable.

“Not only will Labour deliver the promised electrification, we will address the imbalance in transport infrastructure spending, committing to building a Crossrail for the north and enhancing and expanding the rail network in order to drive economic growth and rebalance our economy.”

Union to campaign against electrification cancellations

The news comes as the Labour party pledged its support to a TSSA-led campaign against the Conservative’s cancellation of the electrification work.

The union’s general secretary, Manuel Cortes, said that “modern Britain needed modern railways with modern speeds”, adding that the government were the only party in the industry who didn’t think the electrification works were essential for the UK network.

“We will now be working to ensure that the next Labour manifesto prognoses to reverse the Tory’s broken promises and honour the commitment made to electrify the Midland Mainline and, the other cancelled electrification programmes across Britain, as soon as the next Labour government gets into power,” he said.

But a spokesperson for the DfT said that the government was still “completely committed” to improving services for passengers in every part of the country and that it was “nonsense” to suggest otherwise.

“By investing in new train technology, we’re able to deliver all the benefits of electrification, but without the disruption of massive engineering works,” they explained.  “We’re spending £55.7bn building HS2, which will provide a massive boost to the Northern Powerhouse by better connecting it to London and the Midlands.

“And we’re completely committed to working with Transport for the North as they develop their proposals for a high-speed Northern Powerhouse rail service across the Pennines.”

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