Lib Dems Launch Midland Main Line Electrification Petition

Liberal Democrats across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire have launched a petition to reverse the new Conservative Government's decision to delay the electrification of the Midland Main Line.

Lib Dem councillors and campaigners from the towns and cities served by the Midland Main Line have come together to lobby the Government to rethink their plans and commit to electrifying the line which serves Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester - as well as towns in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

The electrification work was due to be completed by 2020 but transport secretary Patrick McCloughlan MP announced today (25 June 2015) that the work was to be 'paused'.

Lord Paul Scriven of Hunters Bar in the City of Sheffield said: -

"This is a kick in the teeth for cities and town across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.

"The Liberal Democrats pushed hard in Government to secure the cash to fund improvements to this vital rail link which would have delivered new, faster trains with more services and more carriages to ease congestion and overcrowding on this busy line.

"Now in Government by themselves, the Conservatives are delaying this much-needed investment to our region's infrastructure - while at the same time continuing with electrification projects in the South."

Cllr Lucy Care (Derby, Littleover Ward) said: -

"The Midland Main Line is the only major north-south railway which is still not electrified - and the Lib Dems have been campaigning for decades to bring the line up to modern standards.

"It's devastating that just weeks after the General Election the Conservatives have delayed this vital work which would encourage investment into the East Midlands, create jobs and make travel between our towns and cities quicker and easier.

"Despite warm words from the Conservatives during the election campaign, it's clear that the Midlands and the North aren't going to get a fair deal under a majority Tory government."

"We've launched a petition calling on the Government to think again."

ENDS.

Notes to editors.

The Midland Main Line is currently only electrified between London St Pancras and Bedford. The Coalition Government had approved plans to electrify the line north of Bedford by 2020.

The petition is available to sign online at cfield.lib.dm/P62g

It says: "We the undersigned call for the electrification of the Midland Main Line route to be reinstated within the current rail electrification programme maintaining its target completion for 2020. This will help increase train capacity on this important route, improve efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and support the East Midlands and Yorkshire economies."