Transport Secretary confirms to rail supply sector that Trans Pennine upgrade will include both major civil engineering projects and electrification

16 July 2018

The Transport Secretary Chris Grayling MP has provided assurances to the UK rail supply sector that the Trans Pennine Route Upgrade will include both major civil engineering projects and electrification as part of a rolling programme.

In a letter to the Railway Industry Association – the trade body which represents the UK rail supply sector – Grayling says that, “unlike some other investment projects, the Transpennine upgrade will be a rolling programme of enhancements, including both major civil engineering projects and electrification”. Following recent uncertainty in the industry this will help to assure the industry that the route will include electrification over the coming five year funding period, known as Control Period 6.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA) said: “I welcome Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s confirmation that both civil engineering and electrification will play key parts in the Trans Pennine Route Upgrade, giving rail suppliers some certainty about the scheme in the years ahead.

“The Railway Industry Association believes that electrification remains the optimal form of traction for intensively used railway lines because it is more environmentally friendly, reduces wear and tear on track and is more cost effective over the long term. 

“The industry now looks forward to delivering on the Trans Pennine Route Upgrade, working with the DfT and Network Rail. We will soon be publishing our Electrification Cost Challenge report, which examines how the cost of electrification schemes can be reduced significantly – and we hope these learnings will help inform the Trans Pennine works in order to provide cost effective electrification to the North.”

Notes to Editors

  1. Please find the letter from the Transport Secretary to the Railway Industry Association here.
  2. About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the representative body for UK-based suppliers to the UK and world-wide railways. It has more than 200 companies in membership in a sector that contributes £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people—more than the workforce of Birmingham. It is also a growing industry with the number of rail journeys expected to double over the next 25 years and freight set to grow significantly too.  RIA’s membership is active across the whole of railway supply, covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies and SMEs (60% by number). RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry.