Rail minister Jo Johnson on electrification

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The Times

A national programme of electrifying all Britain’s major railway lines would be a waste of money, the rail minister has said.

Jo Johnson effectively ruled out electrification despite claims from MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) that it was the best way to cut pollution and deliver more reliable journeys.

Last year, the government sparked anger by cancelling three electrification projects in south Wales, the East Midlands and the Lake District. It said that the same benefits could be delivered quicker and cheaper by using new “bi-mode” trains that run on a combination of electric and diesel power over different parts of the network.

Ministers also insisted that alternative technologies such as hydrogen and battery power would eventually be introduced to replace diesel altogether. The government wants diesel to be…

I think the paper has misinterpreted that "electrifying all would be a waste of money" means "electrifying any would be a waste of money" ...

Jo Johnson is MP for Orpington, where all scheduled passenger trains have been electric since 1986 ...

[Western Pathfinder]

This from my Twitter feed earlier today .
https://mobile.twitter.com/CommonsTrans/status/991299538488053761.

[Oberon]

Utterly useless isn't he. He & his like are ensuring Britain will always remain in the second division in terms of railway infrastructure.

[ellendune]

Utterly useless isn't he. He & his like are ensuring Britain will always remain in the second division in terms of railway infrastructure.

Is there any need to include the last 5 words?

[eightf48544]

Jo Johnson is MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) for Orpington, where all scheduled passenger trains have been electric since 1986 ...

!986 I'm racking my brains for an answer unless it's summer Saturdays Cross Countries but did they stop at Opington?

[grahame]

Jo Johnson is MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) for Orpington, where all scheduled passenger trains have been electric since 1986 ...

!986 I'm racking my brains for an answer unless it's summer Saturdays Cross Countries but did they stop at Opington?

Hastings line DEMU^▸ (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) (Diesel Electric Multiple Units) ... my most recent journey on one being last year to Fawley!

[eightf48544]

Thanks forgotten Hastings electrification was that late.