22-02-2010 | RAIL ELECTRIFICATION REPORT WELCOMED IN THE EAST MIDLANDS & SHEFFIELD CITY REGION
The campaign to electrify the Midland Main Line (MML) received a significant boost from the influential House of Commons Transport Committee which has published its report :Priorities for investment in the railways, Third Report of Session 2009-10, (HC 38),volumes I and II.
A number of Partners across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire including the East Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA), the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) and the Sheffield City Region (SCR) all submitted written evidence supporting the electrification of the Midland Main Line running through the East Midlands to Sheffield. These partners working with others including the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and a number of Local Authorities have also been active in raising the profiles of this investment which could deliver transport, environmental and economic benefits.
In the Transport Committee Select Committee Announcement of Feb 15th 2010 the committee said:
"Further electrification of the network - particularly the Midland Main Line between London and Sheffield - should also be given top priority. Electrified trains can offer economic and environmental benefits, such as faster journey times, more seats, greater reliability, improved air quality and lower carbon emissions than their diesel equivalents.Approximately 40% of the network is currently electrified."
Councillor David Parsons, Chair of EMRA, said "Our Partners have had several discussions at very high levels on this project which is recognised will bring benefits to all who use the Midland Main Line. In November 2009 we met with The Secretary of State, Lord Adonis, and I said at the time:
"I know that Lord Adonis is interested in long term investment in high speed rail links - but electrifying the Midland Main Line would be a quick win for everybody and complement any future developments. "I am glad that the Select Committee agrees with our Partnership on this project and look forward to work beginning as soon as possible."
Dr Bryan Jackson, emda's Chairman, said: "We strongly welcome the recognition by the Transport Select Committee of the potential value and impact of improving the MML. As a key strategic link connecting the East Midlands to London and Yorkshire, and connecting some of the region's main urban centres to each other, we see its improvement as an essential part of the region's future economic growth and development".
David Brown, Director General of SYPTE said: "Building on recent timetabling improvements between Sheffield and London is essential. The business and environmental case for electrification of the route is overwhelming. The SCR is fully supportive of this enhancement and we are delighted that the Transport Select Committee has given its full support to this key development"
EDITORS NOTE
The Midland Main Line Partnership has said electrifying the Midland Main Line would:
o Speed up journey times, putting Leicester within an hour of London, Derby and Nottingham within 90 minutes and Sheffield within two hours
o Allow for longer, more cost effective and reliable trains on a line where passenger numbers have grown by 87 per cent since 1997
o Boost the economies of the Leicester/Nottingham/Derby area and the Sheffield City Region by £15 million-£19 million per year, according to independent analysis commissioned by emda
o Relieve motorway congestion, complement future high speed rail links and create more capacity for freight trains
o Reduce carbon emissions, by replacing diesel trains and attracting passengers out of cars
Both volumes of the Report can be found on the Committee's website:
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/transport_committee.cfm
Press release quoted above http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/transport_committee/transpn100215.cfm
For interviews, please contact Mel Atkinson or Jon Whowell at EMRA on 0777 196 6906 / 0778 092 3439, Clare Baker at emda on 0115 988 8583 and Tony Belshaw at SYPTE on 0114 276 7575.
For further details, see www.emra.gov.uk and www.emda.org.uk
