North West Lines Go 'Greener'

Three major rail routes in the North West are to be electrified to boost their 'green' credentials, the UK Transport Secretary has announced.

Lord Adonis said the £200m electrification programme, combined with other improvements to track and signalling on the lines, will improve journeys between several of the key towns and cities in the region.

Along with the £1.1bn electrification plans involving London to Swansea and Liverpool to Manchester lines announced in July, this will mean two thirds of all national passenger rail travel will be on electrified routes.

Lord Adonis said: "These improvements will be of great benefit to passengers in the North West. Electric trains are not only quicker, but quieter, smoother and more reliable than diesels.

"Electrification creates the opportunity to carry more passengers thanks to longer trains on these busy routes and to allow some 30 year old 'Pacer' diesel trains to be retired.

"It also allows existing diesels to be re-deployed to provide longer trains on busy routes elsewhere."

He said it is essential investment is made in railways now and "over the longer term", suggesting that by 2017 over two-thirds of passenger rail will be on electrified routes.

Electrification can help to lower the costs of operating the railway since electric trains are generally cheaper to run than diesels and inflict less wear on tracks.

(PR/BMcc)