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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| £1bn plan to electrify rail line | £1bn plan to electrify rail line |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| By Tom Symonds BBC transport correspondent Electric trains are cheaper and require less maintenance | By Tom Symonds BBC transport correspondent Electric trains are cheaper and require less maintenance |
| A £1bn plan to electrify the main rail route between London and Swansea is to be announced by the government. | A £1bn plan to electrify the main rail route between London and Swansea is to be announced by the government. |
| A second line between Liverpool and Manchester will also be converted from diesel to electric. | A second line between Liverpool and Manchester will also be converted from diesel to electric. |
| Ministers say electric trains are lighter and more energy efficient, cutting the running cost and environmental impact of train services. | Ministers say electric trains are lighter and more energy efficient, cutting the running cost and environmental impact of train services. |
| The work will take eight years. Overhead power lines will be installed between London, Swansea, Bristol, Bath and Oxford. | The work will take eight years. Overhead power lines will be installed between London, Swansea, Bristol, Bath and Oxford. |
| Fare rise dismissed | Fare rise dismissed |
| Transport Secretary Lord Adonis told the BBC not backing an electrification programme now would have meant ordering new diesel trains with a lifespan of 30 years, making it impossible to electrify the Great Western Line for a generation. | Transport Secretary Lord Adonis told the BBC not backing an electrification programme now would have meant ordering new diesel trains with a lifespan of 30 years, making it impossible to electrify the Great Western Line for a generation. |
| Instead the rail industry can invest in the electric version of the new intercity train known as the Super Express, unveiled last year. | Instead the rail industry can invest in the electric version of the new intercity train known as the Super Express, unveiled last year. |
| The government and rail industry agree that electrification will bring major benefits. | The government and rail industry agree that electrification will bring major benefits. |
| EUROPE'S ELECTRIC RAIL COVER Switzerland: 100%Sweden: 77%Netherlands: 73%Italy: 69%Germany: 56%Spain: 56% UK: 40% Source: UIC | EUROPE'S ELECTRIC RAIL COVER Switzerland: 100%Sweden: 77%Netherlands: 73%Italy: 69%Germany: 56%Spain: 56% UK: 40% Source: UIC |
| Electric trains do not carry their own fuel - around six tonnes of weight for a fully fuelled intercity train. They also have lighter engines. | Electric trains do not carry their own fuel - around six tonnes of weight for a fully fuelled intercity train. They also have lighter engines. |
| This makes them more than 35% cheaper to operate than diesel trains, according to the Department for Transport. | This makes them more than 35% cheaper to operate than diesel trains, according to the Department for Transport. |
| The electric engines also require less maintenance, and the trains are around 20% cheaper to buy. | The electric engines also require less maintenance, and the trains are around 20% cheaper to buy. |
| There are also major environmental benefits. The production of electricity for trains creates up to 35% less carbon than burning the equivalent amount of diesel. | There are also major environmental benefits. The production of electricity for trains creates up to 35% less carbon than burning the equivalent amount of diesel. |
| First Great Western's existing diesels, dating back to the mid-70s, achieve little more than eight miles to the gallon. | First Great Western's existing diesels, dating back to the mid-70s, achieve little more than eight miles to the gallon. |
| Commuter lines | Commuter lines |
| Network Rail will carry out the work and has assured the government that lessons in the installation of overhead power lines have been learnt following a fiasco last year when work on the West Coast Main Line over-ran. | Network Rail will carry out the work and has assured the government that lessons in the installation of overhead power lines have been learnt following a fiasco last year when work on the West Coast Main Line over-ran. |
| The company says it is buying specialist electrification trains capable of automating the installation job. | The company says it is buying specialist electrification trains capable of automating the installation job. |
| Ministers dismiss suggestions that the investment will lead to an increase in fares - a concern raised by the Campaign for Better Transport. | Ministers dismiss suggestions that the investment will lead to an increase in fares - a concern raised by the Campaign for Better Transport. |
| They say the electrification will lead to cost savings in the running of trains - and the £1bn Great Western investment, funded through Network Rail borrowing, will be repaid over 40 years. | They say the electrification will lead to cost savings in the running of trains - and the £1bn Great Western investment, funded through Network Rail borrowing, will be repaid over 40 years. |
| Britain went through a period of electrification between the 50s and 80s in which two other main lines, East and West, were converted. | Britain went through a period of electrification between the 50s and 80s in which two other main lines, East and West, were converted. |
| Many commuter lines into London from the home counties are also electrified - using a third rail system rather than overhead cables. | Many commuter lines into London from the home counties are also electrified - using a third rail system rather than overhead cables. |
| But Britain still has proportionally less electric railway than most European countries. In the league table, it is below Macedonia. | But Britain still has proportionally less electric railway than most European countries. In the league table, it is below Macedonia. |
| The latest announcement means electric trains come to Wales for the first time - not a single mile of the principality's railways is electrified. | The latest announcement means electric trains come to Wales for the first time - not a single mile of the principality's railways is electrified. |
| Between Manchester and Liverpool a smaller project to electrify the line via Newton-le-Willows has also been given the green light. | |
| This will have the added benefit of allowing Transpennine trains between Manchester airport and Glasgow to run on electric power. The project fills in an un-electrified gap in the network. | This will have the added benefit of allowing Transpennine trains between Manchester airport and Glasgow to run on electric power. The project fills in an un-electrified gap in the network. |
| But the government has not committed to electrify another major diesel route, the Midland Main Line between London and Sheffield. It is still considering the proposal. | But the government has not committed to electrify another major diesel route, the Midland Main Line between London and Sheffield. It is still considering the proposal. |