The boss of a regional transport body said she has been given a glimmer of hope the Government could go ahead with electrifying the rest of the Midland Mainline sooner rather than later.
Midlands Connect Director Maria Machancoses said she welcomed news that the Government was for the first time in three years looking at electrifying the remainder of the route.
The plan to electrify the track north of Northamptonshire was shelved in 2017 because of cost, with electrification only now planned go as far as Market Harborough.
“Bi-mode” trains will run on electricity for part of the route out of St Pancras before switching to less green diesel as far as Sheffield.
Ms Machancoses called the update a “massive boost for the region” – after Network Rail recently announced it would like to see the track electrified by 2050 – and a key step towards a “Midlands rail revolution” allowing the region to be better connected whilst decarbonising the network sooner.
In the House of Commons, for the first time, the Government stated to Nottingham North MP Alex Morris MP that: “Further electrification of the Midland Mainline is currently at an early stage, but it is being examined by Network Rail.”
Midlands Connect – the region’s transport body – said it has been working with local businesses, the East Midlands Chamber and local MPs to continue to make the case for the critical piece of national infrastructure.
Maria Machancoses said: “I’m cautiously optimistic but this could be a massive boost for the region.
“We are currently talking to Government to give us the green light and jump aboard the Midlands Rail revolution.
“For the upcoming Budget, Midlands Connect are proposing a package of proposals that could really put turbochargers on the Midlands Engine.
“My message to Government is back a package of schemes that could place the Midlands at the vanguard of the UK’s transition to a better connected, decarbonised and rebalanced economy.
“There are still lots of hard work to be done, including finding a way to electrify under the low bridge at Leicester station, but I welcome the news that Network Rail is being allowed to un-pause its design work.”
