Newbury MP confident of electrification to Bedwyn

THE MP for Newbury is “increasingly confident” of electrification of the rail line as far as Hungerford, following a meeting with the rail minster.

The decision on the electrification of the line as far as Newbury will conclude over the summer, after which a separate decision will be made whether to run electrification to Bedwyn.

According to the MP at a recent meeting in London, rail minister and Devizes MP Claire Perry said there was an overwhelming economic case to extend electrification to Bedwyn, and argued it was a better economic case than both HS2 and electrification work currently ongoing in Wales.

It was noted that if electrification stopped at Newbury it would “almost certainly” mean another platform at Newbury station for smaller shuttles running west of the town at an estimated cost of £3m.

Speaking after the meeting Richard Benyon said: “The minister was receptive to my questioning of the £75m cost of extending electrification from Newbury to Bedwyn.

“It assumes a stand-alone contract, rather than an extension of the existing works where scale and procurement would keep costs down. I am increasingly confident that electrification beyond Newbury, to serve constituents in Kintbury and Hungerford, will be realised.

“I am determined to ensure the best service possible for the many thousands who commute from West Berkshire, and I will be raising matters related to performance when I meet with First Great Western shortly.”

The MP is expected to hold the meeting in mid-June and a decision is also to be taken within the next six weeks on using new bi-modal trains – which run on electricity or diesel.

Funding for the project comes from a £1bn programme to electrify the whole of the Great Western line announced in July 2009.

The Bedwyn Train Passengers Group launched a petition recently which had gained more than 2,000 signatures last month, campaigning for the electrification as far as Bedwyn.

Spokesperson for the group Bill Wells said: “The decision to only wire as far as Newbury was flawed from the start as only a handful of Paddington through trains start and terminate at Newbury – the majority run to and from Bedwyn.

“Because funds are already committed, it has been assumed that any potential further electrification could not take place until at least 2019, when the next Network Rail control period starts.

“It is expected that electric trains will begin operating to Newbury in May 2017, so that date would leave an interim of at least 18 months.

“Whatever happens we are clear that through services of some sort must continue as even a short interim period without them would be highly detrimental to the communities west of Newbury.”