It has been announced that the Department for Transport has halted the electrification of the railway lines between Bath Spa station and Bristol Temple Meads, so it can use over £140 million for the project on improvements elsewhere.
MP Paul Maynard, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, made the announcement yesterday (Tuesday 8th November).
In a statement, the Department for Transport (DfT) said: “We can bring in the benefits expected by passengers, newer trains with more capacity, without requiring costly and disruptive electrification works.”
“This will provide between £146 million to £165 million in this spending period, to be focused on improvements that will deliver additional benefits to passengers.
“We remain committed to modernising the Great Western mainline and ensuring that passenger benefits are achieved.”
As a result of a recent scrutiny review, Paul Maynard MP decided to defer 4 electrification projects that are part of the programme of work along the Great Western route.
The 4 projects being deferred are:
- Electrification between Oxford and Didcot Parkway;
- Electrification of Filton Bank (Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads);
- Electrification west of Thingley Junction (Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads);
- Electrification of Thames Valley Branches (Henley & Windsor).
The DfT statement continued: “We are continuing to invest £2.8 billion in this electrification programme to provide faster journeys, more services, and better stations while providing new or upgraded trains for passengers, with thousands more seats, and increasing capacity for freight.”
Network Rail’s western route managing director Mark Langman said: “The Great Western main line is undergoing a huge rail investment programme to enable new and upgraded trains with more seats and faster, greener journeys.
“The changes announced today will deliver those benefits to the greatest number of passengers in the shortest possible time.”
Mr Maynard has said that a new intercity train service would run from Oxford, Bath and Bristol, where new trains can switch between electricity, where available, and diesel.
A spokesperson for Great Western Railway (GWR) said: “Customers will be disappointed at these further delays to parts of the electrification programme.
“However, we are determined our customers should not wait a day longer than absolutely necessary to see the benefits they’re expecting from what will be the biggest fleet upgrade in a generation.”
Ben Howlett, the Member of Parliament for Bath, said: “It is disappointing that the line between Bath and Bristol will not be electrified at this time. This would have been a great benefit for commuters and those wishing to travel between the cities.
“However, I am pleased that we will still see electrification from London to Bath. This should bring jobs, investment and new growth opportunities to the city.
“I will be working with the new West of England devolved authority, once it is in place, to see if the funding for the rest of the electrification works could come from another source.
“I have spoken to Network Rail and they have assured me that the new trains are still on track for delivery next year.
“When the trains reach Thingley Junction they will go into bi-mode for the remainder of the journey. Given new funding is available 2019-2024 I expect full electrification by then.
“Network Rail also assured me that these changes will not affect the planned reduction in journey times the new trains are set to bring and therefore Bath residents should still have shorter journeys to London next year.
“I will be continuing to press the West of England devolved authority to look at new ways to fund the improvements sooner than the current proposals and will be asking the Minister for assurances.”
