The Treasury has shelved a £30bn rail electrification programme arguing the cost cannot be justified, according to reports.
The story was broken by the Telegraph and is a fresh blow to the Government's credentials in both the levelling up and building back better agendas, which took a hit after the much criticised Integrated Rail Plan.
A Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS) focussed on electrification and recommended by Network Rail has been quietly blocked by the Treasury according to the Telegraph.
Costing £30bn over the next 30 years, the plans were apparently drawn up nearly 18 months ago.
The TDNS recommended electrifying 12,500km of railway with a further 1,400km of track dedicated to hydrogen trains, while around 1,000km would have been battery-powered.
National Infrastructure Commission chair Sir John Armitt warned that 'the slower we start [electrifying the railways] the slower we’ll finish'.
'Given the costs involved, it’s not unreasonable for some prioritisation of routes to take place, to ensure public money is being targeted at the places where it will make the most difference to passengers and the environment,” he added.
'It’s also worth remembering that today, rail accounts for less than two per cent of total emissions from the transport sector. 2050 isn’t getting any further away and we need a detailed, costed plan for ensuring rail is decarbonised by the most efficient means available.'
Chair of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy has previously called for an electrification plan for England. He has compared the country's performance on eletrification unfavourably with Scotland's, both in terms of delivery and cost overruns.
A 30-year plan to electrify the railways is expected once Great British Railways is firmly established, but the new 'guiding mind' for the rail sector is not planned to be up and running until 2024.
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