In Parliament yesterday, Wells MP James Heappey called on Ministers in the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to join south west MPs in criticising the decision to delay the electrification of the Great Western mainline between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads and between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads. The decision follows a National Audit Office report into spiralling project costs and has led to an indefinite deferment of the scheme.
“The decision will mean that reduced journey times from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads will not be realised and that the electric trains that had been ordered to serve that route will now need to be changed to bi-modal versions with diesel motors also fitted. This will make the trains more expensive and the extra weight in those trains may mean that journey times from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads could even increase” said Mr Heappey.
“Many rail using constituents living in the Burnham-on-Sea area, Cheddar Valley or on the Mendips will use trains from Highbridge & Burnham, Worle and Yatton and so this will be a huge disappointment. The speed of the connection between London and Bristol has an obvious impact on the journey time of those travelling to the capital from further south in Somerset.”
“I have asked the Business Secretary to meet with me and other Somerset MPs so that we can discuss the economic impact that this decision will have. We know that for decades, the South West has seen chronic under-investment in our infrastructure. To unlock the true potential of our region, we need to make sure that road, rail, air, broadband and mobile phone connections are improved urgently.”