13.12.13
Electrification for Wigan-Bolton line
Money from the Local Pinch Point Fund will be used to support electrification between Wigan and Bolton, the DfT has announced.
The line from Wigan North Western station and Bolton’s Lostock Junction will be upgraded. The full cost of the project is estimated at £37m and is due to be complete by 2017, to allow faster and more reliable services for the area.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “Whether it’s unblocking bottlenecks on local roads, improving trouble spots on our motorways and trunk roads, or working to deliver better railways through electrification, these projects will benefit communities up and down the country and help keep Britain moving. By investing in our local and regional transport infrastructure we can help support new jobs and boost our overall competitiveness in the global economic race.”
A taskforce of rail experts will also report to the transport secretary within 12 months on the acceleration of further rail electrification schemes in the north of England. The routes to be examined include:
Leeds – Harrogate – York
Selby – Hull
Sheffield – Leeds
Sheffield – Doncaster
East Coast Main Line – Middlesbrough
Sheffield – Manchester
Warrington– Chester
Crewe – Chester
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