Ministers to look at electrification of Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton railway line
Proposals to electrify the railway line between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton could move a step closer later in the year, an MP has been told.
Transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris, responding to a question from Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski, said a report due later this year would provide further details about how best to look at reducing carbon emissions on the rail network.
Network Rail, the state-owned company responsible for managing Britain's railways, recommended in July this year that the line should be electrified, after being asked by the Government to draw up a plan to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Mr Heaton-Harris said the company was now working on a more detailed plan which would be used to come to decisions about the speed and scope of the programme.
"Once the final strategy is published we will develop business cases for each electrification scheme to ensure they are deliverable and affordable," he said.
Mr Kawczynski has asked for a meeting with Mr Heaton-Harris and Shropshire Council's transport spokesman Councillor Steve Davenport to make the case for the investment.
Mr Kawczynski said he would also be meeting with officials from Network Rail in order to keep pressure on the Government.
Benefits
“Network Rail has identified this stretch of the line as needing prioritisation in getting electrification,” he said.
Mr Kawczynski added that as well as the obvious environmental benefits of having emission-free trains along the route, he said electrification would also boost Shropshire’s economy.
“At the moment, if you take the direct to train to London, it has to change engines at Birmingham because the line is not electrified,” he said. “There are clearly benefits of getting the latest rolling stock into Shrewsbury, and increasing the number of trains coming along the line.”
The 30-mile stretch, which forms part of the West Coast Main Line franchise, serves stations at Bilbrook, Codsall, Albrighton, Cosford, Shifnal, Oakengates, Telford and Wellington. The need to upgrade the line was highlighted after Network Rail was asked by the Government to draw up plans to remove all diesel-only trains by 2040.
The plans, which propose that almost all unelectrified parts of the West Midlands rail network should be converted, will now be submitted to the Government for consideration as part of its Comprehensive Spending Review.
The blueprint has been welcomed by regional transport body Midlands Connect, which said it could potentially represent the biggest rail revolution in more than a century. The body, which includes 22 local authorities across the region, said the plans would improve the environment, make a better service and create skilled jobs in the region.
