Plaid AM Dr Dai Lloyd has called on UK’s Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond to ‘come clean’ over the saga of the electrification of the railway line to Swansea – stating that only full electrification to Swansea will be good enough.
Dr Lloyd made his call following revelations by Richard Eccles, director of national planning at National Rail that UK Ministers have decided against electrifying the line.
Mr. Eccles made the comment during a National Rail conference question- and-answer session in Birmingham.
Following on from Mr. Eccles’ comments, Phillip Hammond has suggested that full electrification to Swansea is not vital. He is looking at a proposal for a fleet of new all-electric trains which could be coupled to new diesel trains where the overhead electric power lines end – adding to fears that the electrification could end in Bristol.
Dr Lloyd stated:
“This revelation by a Director of National Rail is very worrying indeed. I have been concerned for some time with regards to the Conservative-Lib Dem UK Government’s commitment to the scheme. It is clearly unjust that they have announced multi-billion pound electrification schemes in England, but remain silent on providing a similar upgrade to Wales.
“The electrification of the railway line to Swansea is vitally important to the competitiveness of the South Wales economy. Wales deserves a similar railway infrastructure to that which operates in England. To refuse to electrify the railway to Swansea would send out all the wrong signals to businesses in what is a competitive world, and would be a dire reflection of where Wales lies in the priorities of this Conservative and Lib-Dem UK Government.
“The uncertainty over the future of the railway line is hugely damaging, and the Minister needs to come clean on this issue once and for all. Wales deserves better than being treated as a UK Government afterthought.”
