Liberal Democrats launch Midland main line electrification petition

Liberal Democrats across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire have launched a petition to reverse the new Conservative Government's decision to delay the electrification of the Midland Main Line.

You can sign it online.

Lib Dem councillors and campaigners from the towns and cities served by the Midland Main Line have come together to lobby the Government to rethink their plans and commit to electrifying the line which serves Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester - as well as towns in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

The electrification work was due to be completed by 2020 but Patrick McLoughlin announced on 25 June that the work was to be 'paused'.

Cllr Lucy Care from Derby said:

"The Midland Main Line is the only major north-south railway which is still not electrified - and the Lib Dems have been campaigning for decades to bring the line up to modern standards. 

"It's devastating that just weeks after the General Election the Conservatives have delayed this vital work which would encourage investment into the East Midlands, create jobs and make travel between our towns and cities quicker and easier. 

"Despite warm words from the Conservatives during the election campaign, it's clear that the Midlands and the North aren't going to get a fair deal under a majority Tory government." 

"We've launched a petition calling on the Government to think again."

And Market Harborough's own Cllr Phil Knowles (that's him above on the town's station) said:

"The programme and the promises were laid out and seemingly moving forward. Now it seems this multibillion pound scheme is set to come in over budget and much delayed. 

"When will the scheme be completed? How much over budget is anticipated and importantly, can we have cast iron assurances that all of the long awaited parts of the scheme will actually be delivered?"