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Re: Electrification.

On 2 Oct, 11:47, TimB <timburf...@onetel.net> wrote:
> On Oct 2, 9:20 am, "sweller" <swel...@mztech.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Paul Scott wrote:
> > > > Following on from Ruth Kelly's announcement of a rolling program of
> > > > electrification - an announcement that was unfortunately lost in
> > > > amongst the hoo hah of her resignation - there's a petition on the 
No
> > > > 10 website.
>
> > > >http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Electrification/
>
> > > Did she really announce a rolling programme!
>
> > She said:  "So Labour will develop options for a rolling programme
of
> > electrification of our railways - potentially the largest programme of
> > electrification in our history."
>
> > > So when does it start, and which line is to be done first? Or did she
> > > actually just announce a consultation or debate on the subject...
>
> > No specifics - I'm hoping "develop options" means "work out
which lines
> > need it most".
>
> > There's areas where more 3rd rail would be welcome - which would free u
p
> > 171s for elsewhere.
>
> > > Another petition though - I'm surprised the site allows repeat
> > > petitions - I suppose they will eventually just issue the same stalli
ng
> > > response as Roger Ford's petition had...
>
> > A lot of it is about keeping up momentum.  Not letting them off the h
ook,
> > so to speak.
>
> > --
> > Simon
>
> > Brighton
> > ex-Westbury, ex-Aberystwyth
>
> Note the word 'potentially' as well as 'develop options'.
>  And she knew she was resigning so wouldn't have to deliver.
> Conference spin, I fear.
>   Tim

Partially conference spin and partially panic because the ROSCOs and
banks have said that they really aren't interested in funding any more
diesel powered trains in large numbers - well at least not without
massive underwriting guarantees from the government. That means that
the DfT could announce as many DMU sets as it likes - but they won't
get built..

As we understand it Network Rail is now looking at a higher speed
method of getting the wires up, with a sort of electrification
equivalent of the high speed track laying machines. If the process of
putting up masts and wires can be speeded up, and therefore made
cheaper, then the options become more viable.
Also I think there's a feeling that previous business cases for main
line electrification were designed to make it look costly because, as
with most government reports, the decision that the DfT wanted had
been determined in advance - and that was that it wasn't viable.(I
think it was one of the things that Yes Minister revealed - and was
subsequently agreed to be correct - never instigate an enquiry into
something unless you know exactly what you want the enquiry to
conclude BEFORE it begins.)

I think a good case has now been made for London - Bristol - S Wales
(and Didcot - Oxford) plus MML to Sheffield.

Of course as there is a strong feeling in the government that it will
lose the next election there's no need to hold back - the best thing
would be to announce the schemes and get them started before calling
an election. Then the newly pro-rail Tory party would have to agree to
keeping the projects going or have one of its first decisions to be an
about turn on all it has been promoting in recent weeks.

I think I'd be surprised if we didn't get an announcement reasonably
soon - maybe one of the early decisions by whoever gets the job of
replacing Ruth Kelly...

All will be revealed soon I'm sure - and of course it may be that the
schemes would create a few jobs and that's the sort of positive thing
a desperate government may want to happen too!

Tony

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