Rail boost ‘election gimmick’ says MP

OLDHAM MP Michael Meacher is demanding answers from government about how it can “pause” electrification of Northern Rail lines - only weeks after promising to revolutionise the network.

The Oldham West and Royton MP said it was clear the promise was no more than an election gimmick.

The MP has written to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, criticising the decision.

Mr Meacher said: “The chancellor reiterated his ambition to close the decades-old economic gap between north and south by, among other things, making a record investment in northern transport projects.

“The Tory election manifesto had already promised to electrify the main northern routes as part of a £13 billion master plan to modernise the region’s transport, which now looks like nothing more than an election gimmick.”

Government blamed Network Rail and said the improvements were untenable because of rising costs. Network Rail claims the programme was too ambitious.

Mr Meacher added in his letter: “I have received a huge amount of correspondence regarding your decision to ‘pause’ in the financing of the upgrade and electrification of rail lines in the north.

“How on earth can this be justified when prior to the election the talk was all about a ‘revolution in the way we govern England’?”.