Posted 1st March 2011 | 3 Comments

Electrification and IEP to Cardiff to go ahead

THE transport secretary Philip Hammond is telling the House of Commons that the Great Western Main Line is to be electrified to Cardiff, using bi-modal intercity trains built by Hitachi.

The route to Bristol Temple Meads and the south Wales Valley Lines are also to be electrified.

The case for electrification onwards to Swansea is to stay under review.

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Reader Comments:

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  • John Gilbert, Cradley, Herefordshire, England

    That the wires are to reach Cardiff in the present financially tight times is excellent. And with the recent excellent referendum result in Wales the Welsh Government - responsible for Transport - can now presumably electrify the Cardiff to Swansea section itself. But to say, as the Minister did in pooh-poohing wires beyond Cardiff, that there is only one train per hour between Cardiff and Swansea is playing with words. As everyone knows there is also a local service between the two cities! And what about freight, the Cinderella of transport by electricity in the UK.

  • Dom, Manchester

    Excellent news. A plan to electrify MML must be the next target.

  • Chris Reynell, Longstock, Hampshire.

    On St Davids day. A great tribute to the "British Railway" staff who will make this happen.