Bid to link up electric rail routes

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The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) wants to transform a series of diesel-powered routes running across the country in a £500 million project.

It would take a decade and cause disruption, but would eventually allow 85,000 more passengers a day or 35% extra to travel, ATOC said. Carbon emissions would also be slashed by 75,000 tonnes, or 30%, it said.

Most lines in London and the South East and routes running from North to South, such as the East and West Coast Main Lines, are already electrified. But no lines running across the width of the country are currently powered that way.

ATOC wants to upgrade the lines between Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Leeds and York.

It also wants to transform the routes between Birmingham and Bristol, Reading, Swindon and Gloucester, and from Ipswich to Felixstowe.

Some five million people would benefit from the more efficient service, the group said.

Chief executive Michael Roberts said: "Over the next 30 years, the demand for rail is likely to double and we must continue to improve our existing network if we are to keep up with this growth in passenger numbers, as well as planning for new capacity such as high speed lines."

He added: "A relatively small investment would help cut carbon emissions and deal with the capacity problems facing parts of the rail network. Linking up cities and towns with better trains that can carry more passengers also benefits the whole of the economy, encouraging investment and helping businesses to be more efficient."

Train companies prefer electric-powered trains as they can take more people and run a more frequent service as no refuelling is involved.