Funding for Electrification for Barking to Gospel Oak needed now
Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qsimple/
Local Labour Assembly Members are putting pressure on Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne to provide funding for the electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak line in his June spending round (letter below). The funding was originally included in the Autumn Budget only to be withdrawn.
The Assembly Members argue that electrification is necessary to ease the current overcrowding and improve air quality. The investment needs to be awarded from the Treasury as soon as possible to ensure that electrification can be introduced before Crossrail opens in 2018. Transport for London have offered to contribute £25m towards the £90m cost of the scheme.
It will also fill in a missing link for freight trains – with the massive new Port opening on the Thames, which will benefit London’s economy, we want to maximise its benefits without clogging up London’s roads.
London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore said:
“Electrification is essential if my constituents are to be adequately connected with the rest of London’s transport. There is significant overcrowding on this route and urgent steps need to be taken to address this.”
London Assembly Member for North East Jennette Arnold OBE said:
“The current lack of funding to this line prevents TfL from introducing longer trains on this route and the result is that passengers are horribly overcrowded. Demand is outstripping capacity and proper investment could help alleviate this.”
London Assembly Member for Enfield and Haringey Joanne McCartney said:
“Electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak Line has widespread support from all sides, including TfL, the rail industry and passenger stakeholder groups. The Government is the only stumbling block in the way of granting the much needed electrification to this route as the funding, originally included in the Treasury’s Autumn Budget, was withdrawn.”
London Assembly Member for City and East John Biggs said:
“We urge the Chancellor to include electrification of this route in June’s spending round. Any delay will increase the costs to this much needed programme.”
