News / Transport
Electrification plans for Bristol derailed
Plans to electrify two train lines in Bristol have been “deferred” after MPs called the cost of the project “staggering and unacceptable”.
The railway lines affected include those running from Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads, and from Bath Spa to Temple Meads, where work has already begun.
Work will continue as scheduled on the railway line from Bristol Parkway to Swindon and Cardiff.
is needed now More than ever
Costs have spiralled from the original £874m estimate in 2013 to £2.8b.
Labour politicians have condemned the decision on social media.
The government has just abandoned an election pledge on rail electrification. Very bad news for South West England. https://t.co/PJXYTboChg pic.twitter.com/OEnuV5Lz0X
— Tom Watson (@tom_watson) November 8, 2016
Rail electrification in Bristol area now ‘deferred’ by DfT Minister – no timeframe! Disappointed, frustrated & angry. Lots of Questions
— Mark Bradshaw (@mark_bradshaw) November 8, 2016
In a statement Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy said that the rail minister Paul Maynard needs to come to Bristol and explain himself: “For too long we have had to endure over-crowded and expensive rail services in the Bristol area, and local people have also had to put up with the disruption caused by electrification works.
“The Rail Minister needs to come to Bristol to tell rail users and residents why he has pulled the plug on parts of the project. Why is he now saying that the benefits – newer trains and more capacity – can be achieved without electrification of parts of the track when the DfT clearly did not regard this as the case before? What does he mean when he says four parts of the project, including the lines into Temple Meads, will be ‘deferred’ – will this work ever happen? If so, when?
Read more: Strike plans over new trains
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