Vital upgrade work ‘paused’ indefinitely by new Tory government

Improvements to rail services from Sheffield have been shelved by the Conservatives just weeks after the election.

In Coalition, the Lib Dems secured funding for major improvements across the North – including the electrification of the Midland Mainline and Transpennine Lines.

Campaigning for rail investment:
Former Lib Dem transport minister meeting Sheffield Lib Dem councillors at Sheffield station

Electrification of the Midland line, linking Sheffield with Derby, Leicester and London was due to be completed by 2020 but has now been delayed indefinitely by the new Conservative government.

Local campaigner Ian Auckland said:

We fought hard to get a better deal for rail users in Sheffield and across the North – but this new Tory majority government has halted the progress we made.

This is deeply frustrating for everybody in Sheffield who uses the railways – especially when electrification work and improvements are continuing in the south of England.

We need better connections both to London and to other northern cities to encourage investment and create jobs in our region.

Despite warm words before the election, it’s clear that the Conservatives aren’t going to give cities like ours a fair deal in Government by themselves.”

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