The Yorkshire Post says: Environmental case should be tipping point for Government U-turn on Yorkshire rail scheme

Much has already been made of the damage to commuters from the Government's decision to scrap a £500m upgrade of a key railway line between Yorkshire and London; now the environmental cost of the cancellation is becoming clear.
Pressure is growing on Transport Secretary Chris Grayling over scrapped rail electrification plans.Pressure is growing on Transport Secretary Chris Grayling over scrapped rail electrification plans.
Pressure is growing on Transport Secretary Chris Grayling over scrapped rail electrification plans.

Figures released by the Department for Transport under pressure from Labour MP Paul Blomfield show the planned electrification of the line between London and Sheffield would have delivered £271m-worth of carbon emission savings over the next 60 years - more than 20 times the amount forecast under the alternative proposals for bi-mode trains which can run on electricity and diesel that are now being pushed forward.

The switch to electric trains would have also had a dramatic impact on nitrogen oxide emissions.

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The fact that the Government is pursuing the far less environmentally-friendly course of action on this vital rail route comes in stark contrast to Prime Minister Theresa May’s commitment to make the UK a world leader in tackling climate change and grow the nation’s economy while cutting back on damaging emissions.

Just last week, Mrs May announced the UK is to invest £140m on helping poorer communities around the world which are disproportionately affected by climate change whether through deforestation or vulnerability to natural disasters and climate extremes.

That money is a wise and necessary investment for all of our futures. But it raises the question why domestic policy relating to spending on the nation’s railway infrastructure is not judged by the same standard. The evidence has already been mounting that the Government should reverse the ill-founded decision to cancel the electrification project; today’s revelations should act as the tipping point for the U-turn to arrive as soon as possible.