Electrification: we must go further

LOCAL campaigners have welcomed the resumption of the electrification of the trans-Pennine railway route between Leeds and Manchester - but have called on the Government to go even further.

STORM (Support The Oldham Rochdale Manchester rail line Group) also wants to see electrification of the Calder Valley routes through Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Brighouse and Halifax as part of the programme, as well as line speed improvements, to be started within the next year.

The Calder Valley route was identified by the Government-appointed Electrification Task Force as the number one priority line in the north of England for electrification.

The upgraded trans-Pennine line, due for completion in 2022-2023, should also include resignalling, track and junction improvements and a passing facility at Halifax, according to STORM secretary Peter Dawson.

He said: “The Leeds-Brighouse-Rochdale-Manchester service should run throughout the evening and on Sundays. The daytime service should be half-hourly, with one train an hour running being a semi-fast service to give a 30 minute journey time from Hebden Bridge to Leeds.”