皇冠体育app

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has today (17 July 2013) visited Eccles to mark the completion of a vital first step in a 拢400 million electrification programme to transform rail travel across the north west.

皇冠体育app installation of new infrastructure between Newton Le Willows and Castlefield Junction by Network Rail paves the way for the introduction of new state-of-the-art electric trains between Manchester Airport and Scotland from December, boosting capacity and providing faster and more reliable services to passengers.

Speaking during a short ceremony to mark the completion of the work at Eccles station, one of the many set to benefit from the investment, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

皇冠体育app government is committing record amounts of investment into transforming the rail network and it is great to see this work happening right now.

Electrification of these routes will significantly improve connections between our major towns and cities, boosting the economy and providing passengers with quicker, cleaner and more frequent services.

皇冠体育app next major landmark in the north west electrification programme will be the introduction of electric trains between Liverpool, Newton Le Willows and Wigan from December 2014.

皇冠体育app electrification of the network in the north west is part of the government鈥檚 鈥榥orthern hub鈥� enhancements, which will greatly increase the capacity and capability of services running across many major cities in the North.

Notes to editors

皇冠体育app north west electrification programme is being delivered in 5 phases between December 2013 and December 2016:

• phase 1: between Castlefield Junction and Newton Le Willows by December 2013
• phase 2a: Between Liverpool and Newton Le Willows
• phase 2b: Between Huyton and Wigan
• phase 2c: Between Castlefiled Junction and Manchester Victoria, all by December 2014
• phase 3: Preston to Blackpool, by May 2016
• phase 4: Manchester Victoria to Preston (Euxton Junction), by December 2016
• phase 5: Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge, Guide Bridge to Stalybridge, December 2016

皇冠体育app government announced a major programme of rail investment for England and Wales last year.

First TransPennine Express will start running new electric trains from Manchester to Airport to Glasgow from December 2013 onwards following delivery from Siemens. 皇冠体育appy will replace existing diesel trains. 皇冠体育app full electric fleet is planned for introduction by Spring 2014.