Northern - Powerhouse or Powercut?
Update 30 September 2015 Today it has been announced that the electrification of the TransPennine and Midland Mainline routes will resume. A review into Network Rail's upgrade programme conducted by Sir Peter Hendy has outlined how the work could continue, in response the Secretary of State has instructed the Chair of Network Rail to un-pause this work. Network Rail will now work with the DfT and Rail North to develop a new plan for electrification of the TransPennine route between Stalybridge and Leeds and on to York and Selby. Network Rail will also recommence work to electrify Midland Mainline, with elecitrification north of Bedford to Kettering and Corby complete by 2019 and the line north of Kettering to Leicester, Derby/Nottingham and Sheffield complete by 2023. Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said: As a one nation government we are making sure every part of Britain benefits from a growing economy. Connecting up the great cities of the n