MPs demands 'urgent review' of Yorkshire rail electrification

A new report condemns the “staggering and unacceptable” rise in the cost of electrifying the Great Western line between London and Bristol which saw the budget increase by £1.2bn in a single year.

The Public Accounts Committee of MPs said it remains unclear whether the project can be delivered to its new 2018 deadline while meeting its current budget.

It says lessons learned should be incorporated into the electrification of the Midland Mainline, connecting Sheffield to London, and the trans-Pennine line between Liverpool, Leeds and York.

The David Cameron Government repeatedly trumpeted its commitments to electrifying the two routes.

However, the timetable for both projects was put back in 2015 and current Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has refused to commit to meeting the current timetable for trans-Pennine electrification to be completed by 2022 and Midland Mainline by 2023.

PAC chairman Meg Hillier MP said: “Network Rail admits there are still very significant risks in the Great Western scheme and it is vital these are fully identified and carefully managed.

“It must work with the Department to ensure this information is properly factored into the whole rail modernisation programme.

“For its part, the Department [for Transport] should urgently review its plans for electrification – not just on the different sections of the Great Western route, but also on the Midland Main Line and trans-Pennine routes.

“Electrification was heralded with the promise of benefits to passengers but the Government has a duty to determine if, in fact, these benefits can be delivered in a more timely and cost-effective way.”

Mr Grayling has already signalled a move away from the focus on electrification, having scrapped the proposed upgrade between Selby and Hull arguing that new trains would achieve the same results.

In a recent interview with The Yorkshire Post, the Transport Secretary said people “shouldn’t get too distracted by progress or otherwise of overhead cables.”

Mr Grayling said that what passengers really wanted was a “reliable train” and his priority was making more carriages available.