Reactions to the Government’s electrification announcement broadly welcomed the proposals with notes of caution sounded about the risk of higher fares from the Campaign for Better Transport countered by the desire to see cuts in carbon emissions which electrification will bring.

Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said:
 
“The announcement by the Prime Minister and the transport secretary of a £1.1 billion electrification package is excellent news and a clear demonstration of strong Government commitment to modern rail transport. 
 
“The electrification of both the Great Western Main Line to Newbury, Oxford, Bristol and Swansea and the Liverpool to Manchester route will bring real benefits to passengers and the environment.
 
“The Great Western main line has the strongest call on investment in electric trains and we are pleased also to see investment committed to a strategic infill scheme. The inclusion of Liverpool to Manchester will deliver more capacity, including newer and faster trains to an already busy corridor linking two of our largest cities.
 
“We also believe there is a powerful case for electrifying other main lines and investing in a number of smaller infill schemes.
 
”ATOC’s longer term aspiration is to provide electric trains for 80 per cent of passengers.”
 
Gordon Brown and Lord Adonis announcement marks major progress in the government’s position on electrification since October 2007 when ATOC and Network Rail jointly asked the Department for Transport to reconsider its position of playing down the case for such investment.

Michael Roberts added:  “Electrification offers two areas of opportunity for rail. Electric trains on average emit fewer carbon emissions than diesels and, alongside wider moves towards low carbon power generation, stand to improve their green credentials further.
 
“But electric trains also bring advantages in terms of their potential to deliver lower operating costs, better reliability, more capacity and shorter journey times. That means better services for existing passengers and more scope for attracting new customers away from more polluting forms of transport.”
 
Graham Smith, planning director for DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd, said: 

“This announcement by the Government to electrify the Great Western main line marks the beginning of a new era for the railway in Britain.

“The railway is already the low carbon transport mode of choice for freight users, and electrification allows further carbon reductions to be made.
The announcement would put modal shift from road to rail at the centre of the Government's low carbon transport policy.”
 
“There are also wider benefits to the railway of further electrification.  For rail freight, the business case for main line electrification is improved through the gauge enhancements required to electrify a rail route.

“When set alongside a national electrification infill programme this will open up the railway to higher and wider freight wagons, which will allow even more freight to move by rail. Main line and infill electrification will also help rail freight’s competitiveness by allowing faster and longer freight trains. This is one of the eleven principles contained in the Department for Transport’s vision for a Strategic Freight Network.”

The Great Western main line is a key corridor for transporting stone and other materials to London for construction projects. Faster and longer freight trains would operate between the aggregate supply points and London on an electrified rail route.

Stephen Joseph, executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport, said:

"We warmly welcome this announcement – it will bring us closer to European standards in rail travel with better and more reliable trains with lower emissions.

“However, this must not be used as an excuse to increase fares that already the highest in Europe, as is happening with the new Kent high-speed services.

“Electrification brings wider benefits in cutting pollution and attracting people out of cars – these need to be paid for by the Government rather than by rail passengers.”

“This needs to be the first step in a rolling programme, embracing urban and local rail services rather than just inter-city lines. The Government needs to get on with more infill electrification so as to connect places like Blackpool that are currently not on the inter-city.”

Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said:

“Passengers will welcome today’s news. Extending electrification will improve services in the long term, reducing the pressure on the industry’s costs and potentially lowering fares. 

“Electrification will also improve reliability and potentially speed up services which could reduce journey times.

“Passengers tell us that more trains, punctual services and getting a seat should be the industry’s top priority and electrification will help address these. We welcome the speed of this decision and look forward to participating in the next stage of electrification to be considered”.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said:

“This must be just the start of the project. The Liberal Democrats want virtually the entire network electrified by 2040.

“While this is a welcome step, with the uncertainties of the General Election ahead it is vital that all parties commit themselves.

“The Liberal Democrats are committed to it, Labour has now committed to it, but the Tories have not.”

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