Alec Trick is not dead, he only sleepeth
Would it take a miracle to bring back Midland main line electrification? No, just a true application of market forces
The disaster that is Great Western electrification has spread poison to the whole railway system, resulting in the death of electrification in general, and in particular the Midland main line. I don’t blame the Government for this; I too would have stopped it in the circumstances of constantly escalating prices and extending timescales. Also, the timing was not good, with remodelling of Derby and Leicester coming up, but cancellation rather than delay in the hope of bi-mode salvation is a very, very bad policy. It doesn’t have to be like this.
The Midland main line had a better business case than Great Western when the Age of Enlightenment began and main line electrification became stated policy. It all made sense, better, faster trains which cost less to buy and run. Less pollution, less track damage, most readers will be well aware about Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s statement that it saves just one minute on the route in total (oh, I can’t say that).
TINA
It is good management advice that if you are in a hole, stop digging. Network Rail …
