The Department for Transport says it will decide on the trans-Pennine Route Upgrade in 2018, with the aim of delivering improvements from 2022.
It told RAIL it was looking to deliver improvements to journey times, the ability to run longer trains, and improvements to overall performance.
The announcement follows the decision to cancel electrification of parts of the Midland and Great Western Main Lines, and the Windermere branch.
When you consider the extensive and expensive Civil Engineering work required on the basically flat and straight GWR line to Bristol I think complete electrification of trans-Pennine routes is unlikely. Bi-mode or hybrid trains are much more flexible. The MD of GWR has even envisaged electric wires from Newton Abbot to Plymouth to give an added boost. Similar solutions may appropriate for the hillier parts in the Northern areas.
Decision deferred until 2018? The DfT must think us dull northernfolk will not notice their decision to cancel! Leeds and Manchester Piccadilly are the third and fourth busiest UK stations outside of London. These two great cities must be the biggest in western Europe not to be linked by an electric railway. Just as crazy is the current "electric gap " between Leeds and York with all the associated missed opportunities for TPEx and VTEC. Preliminary pre electrification work between Colton Junction, south of York, and Neville Hill depot,east of Leeds has already begun. This section must be all of 20 miles long and in flat,open country. An easy project! Come on DfT get a grip. The North won't roll over on this one!
FrankH - 27/07/2017 21:13
With the viaducts and tunnels it'll be very expensive to wire for marginal improvements in journey time. The 68's plus Mk5a coaches will give longer trains but will run under the wires for a lot of the journeys. I think bi mode units will eventually be the way forward, 5 or 6 car sets.