First phase of NW electrification completes
NETWORK Rail has completed the first phase of the £400m North West electrification programme, which means electric trains will be able to run between Manchester Airport and Scotland from December.
The installation of new infrastructure on part of the world’s oldest public railway between Newton-le-Willows and Castlefield Junction marks a major milestone in the programme, which will see over 350 track kilometres upgraded across the north of England.
Transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said: “Electrification of these routes will significantly improve connections between our major towns and cities, boosting the economy and providing passengers with quicker, cleaner and more frequent services.”
Jane Simpson, Network Rail’s director of route asset management, said: “Electrification helps us to boost capacity, reduce carbon emissions and cut the cost of running the railway. Electric trains are also quieter, more reliable and have more seats, which is good news for passengers.
“This work is part of a wider programme of improvements that will transform rail travel in the north of England. By enabling faster, more frequent trains to connect key towns and cities we can provide the railway that the region’s passengers want and its economy needs.”
The next major improvements will come in December 2014, when electric trains will be able to run from Liverpool to Manchester via Newton-le-Willows and Wigan and from December 2016, when they will run between Preston and Blackpool, Manchester and Preston and Manchester and Stalybridge.
This will be followed by the completion of trans-Pennine electrification from Stalybridge through Huddersfield on to Leeds, York and Selby by December 2018.
