The Secretary of State for Transport has today received the final report of the Electrification Task Force. This body was set up in 2013 to determine how electrification could deliver greater economic growth in the north of England.
Thirty two routes were examined, and grouped into three distinct prioritisation tiers based on their ability to contribute to local economic plans, how they fit with other schemes, and the number of diesel kilometres of running they would replace.
There are twelve routes in Tier One which the Task Force is recommending be progressed through outline base case work to feed into the initial industry plan / High Level Output Statement for Network Rail’s Control Period 6, which runs for five years from 2019. The twelve include three that have a direct link to community rail in Lancashire:
Calder Valley (including Hall Royd Junction to Preston)
Southport/Kirkby to Salford Crescent
Bolton to Clitheroe
To download the full press release please click here and to download the briefing note please click here. Full details of the Electrification Task Force and the report can be found by visiting http://railnorth.org/news/electrification-task-force-final-report-revealed/.