13.07.18
Network Rail has yet to give an end date for Cardiff electrification
Article by Callum Wood of Rail Technology Magazine
Network Rail cannot give a precise date for when work on the electrification of the south Wales mainline will be completed
The £2.8bn project was announced by Prime Minster David Cameron in 2012 and aimed to speed up journeys between London and Cardiff.
Network Rail could not give a date but said it would deliver the project "as quickly as possible in 2019."
Under the original plans, the overhead wires were due to serve as far as Swansea.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We are absolutely committed to completing electrification to Cardiff.”
Last year, secretary of state for transport Chris Grayling announced that the original plan to electrify the Great Western Mainline to Swansea was cancelled.
Electrification will now only go as far as Cardiff.
Network Rail said electrification is on track to reach Bristol Parkway by the end of this year.
"We are working with train operating companies to agree the access we need to achieve this as quickly as possible in 2019 while keeping the future disruption to passengers to a minimum.
"The greater west programme [electrification] is already delivering improvements for passengers, including GWR’s new intercity express trains, which have more seats and better on-board facilities."