The UK Government has scrapped plans to electrify three main rail routes in the Midlands, Wales and the North.

Speaking to the House on Thursday, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed plans to electrify the Midland Main Line, the Great Western route west of Cardiff and on the Lakes Line between Windermere and Oxenholme have now been dropped.

He said thanks to new technology, the Government can improve journeys for passengers sooner than expected with modern trains, "instead of carrying out disruptive electrification works along the whole of these routes".


"New bi-mode train technology offers seamless transfer from diesel power to electric that is undetectable to passengers," he said.

"The industry is also developing alternative fuel trains, using battery and hydrogen power. This means that we no longer need to electrify every line to achieve the same significant improvements to journeys, and we will only electrify lines where it delivers a genuine benefit to passengers."

The news has sparked anger among public sector stakeholders.

Andy McDonald, the Shadow Transport Secretary, said: "The decision betrays a promise to south Wales, and the transport secretary sneaking out the news on the final day before he goes on his summer holidays adds insult to injury.

"The Tories do not act in the interests of the whole UK. They have put their own survival, finding £1bn for a deal with the DUP, ahead of everything else and it's communities like those in south Wales that pay the price."

(LM)