South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard has raised his concerns after the government announced it is pausing the electrification of the Midland Main Line – delaying faster, greener rail services between Sheffield, London, and the wider North.
It is one of four major rail projects on hold, announced in the Government’s latest Plan for Change release detailing more than 50 road and rail upgrades. Among the rail projects reaffirmed includes the reinstating of a passenger line between Bristol city centre and Portishead, the funding of the Midlands Rail Hub, and the green light for new stations at Wellington, Cullompton and Haxby.
However, in the case of the Midland Main Line, the DfT said it is focusing investment on other schemes over the Spending Review period given the existing trains in use on this stretch of railway and the costs and time needed to electrify the route. It added: “We will continue to keep the potential for full electrification of the route under review as part of our plans to decarbonise our railways and as funding becomes available in future.”
While other parts of the North received new investment in rail infrastructure including new stations and improved signalling, South Yorkshire was left out of new rail funding and the government also confirmed that electrification of the Midland Main Line, a long-standing priority for the region, is being put on hold.
The decision means Sheffield will remain the only major UK city without electrified rail services, relying instead on older, more polluting diesel trains that are slower, less reliable, and worse for the environment.
The pause runs contrary to the ambitions set out in the White Rose Agreement and Lord Blunkett’s Yorkshire’s Plan for Rail, which calls for faster, cleaner connections between Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, and London.
The region previously missed out when HS2 to Sheffield was one of the first legs to be cancelled which would have reduced the journey time from Sheffield to London from 120 minutes to 87 minutes, with additional seating capacity on brand new electric trains through electrification of Midland Main Line.
Mayor Coppard has called on the government to think again and reaffirmed his commitment to fighting for South Yorkshire’s transport priorities, including:
- Electrification of the Midland Main Line.
- A new station at Rotherham Gateway.
- Upgrades at Doncaster.
- Faster services from Barnsley to London and between Sheffield, Manchester, and Leeds.
- Investment in Supertram expansion.
“There’s frustration in the region,” said Mayor Coppard. “After decades of national underinvestment in our transport network, we’re having to wait longer for vital rail improvements that would create jobs, opportunities and economic growth. It feels like one step forward and two steps back.
“We were told HS2 would come to Sheffield. That was cancelled. Now electrification of Midland Main Line is being paused. All we’re asking for is a fair deal.
“I’ve raised my concerns directly with the government, and I’ll keep doing so. South Yorkshire deserves a modern, reliable, and sustainable transport network – and I won’t stop fighting for it.”
Image credit: iStockphoto.com
