The Association of Train Operating Companies is calling for a series of infill electrification schemes, which would provide better connections between major British cities and also close some ‘missing links’.

The plans involve up to 640km of route – about 4% of the National Rail network.

ATOC is ‘keen to see work done which prepares for the electrification in the long term‘. The new proposals would reduce carbon emissions and journey times, and also reduce overcrowding on some of the busiest parts of the network. At the moment, these carry around a quarter of a million passengers every day.

The Association said it had developed its proposals as part of the discussions about a longer-term programme of electrification. The Government has already announced plans to electrify the core Great Western Main Line between London and Oxford/Bristol/Swansea and also to complete the electrification between Manchester Victoria, Huyton and Liverpool Lime Street. 

ATOC said it had estimated that electrification on ten key routes would cut carbon emissions by about a third on those routes, or around 75 000 tonnes a year. It would also create extra capacity for both passenger and freight.

ATOC Chief Executive Michael Roberts said: ‘The programme of electrification that the Government announced over the summer was a clear demonstration of the commitment to a modern railway that is at the heart of a successful, low carbon economy. But we need to go further and plan ahead for the longer term if we are to ensure that a significant majority of passengers reap the benefits of faster, greener, quieter electric trains. Over the next 30 years, the demand for rail is likely to double and we must continue to improve our existing network if we are to keep up with this growth.’

The ten schemes are:

a. Liverpool–Warrington Central–Manchester via Warrington Central
b. Manchester–Huddersfield–Leeds
c. Basingstoke–Reading and Oxford–Leamington–Coventry (completing Basingstoke–Oxford–Birmingham)
d. Barnt Green–Cheltenham–Gloucester–Bristol Temple Meads (completing Birmingham–Bristol)
e. St Helens–Wigan
f. Leeds–York (with [b], this would complete Manchester–York–Newcastle–Edinburgh)
g. Preston (Euxton Jn)–Bolton–Manchester (completing Manchester–Glasgow)
h. Crewe–Chester
i. Ipswich (East Suffolk Jn)–Felixstowe
j. Swindon–Stroud–Standish Jn (with [d], this would complete Swindon–Cheltenham–Birmingham)
 

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