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Railway to be electric: '...and about time too!'
Passengers in Lancashire are to get faster, more frequent trains after the Government finally gave the green light to the electrification of the Preston to Manchester line.
Campaigners across the county were celebrating today after calling for years for the measure to be introduced.
Last year, the Government announced the Liverpool to Manchester route was to be electrified.
Now Chancellor Alistair Darling has announced, in yesterday's pre-Budget report, that the scheme was to be extended to Preston.
It means the West Coast Line between Preston and Manchester will be upgraded, meaning Chorley and Bolton will also benefit.
The scheme is expected to allow direct electric services between Scotland and Manchester.
Chris Dale, of campaigners TravelWatch NorthWest, said: "It is about time too, to be perfectly honest. We have been pressing for this for many, many years and it is something that has long been needed."
Roger Bell, of the Ormskirk, Preston and Southport Travellers Association (OPSTA), said: "We talk about the environment and yet we keep running diesel trains between Manchester and Glasgow. They will be electrified and I can't wait.
"The one missing bit now is electrification to Blackpool. There are an awful lot of trains which run between Manchester and Blackpool."
Passenger watchdog Passenger Focus also welcomed the scheme but warned passengers will face disruption.
Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said: "While passengers will benefit from electrification, as with any major investment in infrastructure this project will cause huge disruption.The industry must make certain this disruption is managed and passengers are given plenty of information."
Network Rail welcomed the government's support for its plans for further electrification of the rail network.
A spokesman said: "This is a welcome further step towards a rolling programme of electrification. Yet more ambition is needed. We will continue to press the case for more."
It is 50% cheaper to run electric trains over diesel equivalents.Electric trains are also faster, 90% more reliable and produce 30% less carbon dioxide.
Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle, who has spearheaded a campaign for the line to be electrified, said: "Passengers in my constituency and other areas in the North West, such as Bolton and Preston, will now benefit from modern trains fit for purpose."
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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