THE Westminster Government’s commitment to the electrification of the Great Western mainline through to Swansea (hopefully along with the valley lines) may represent one of the largest commitments of resources to Wales for a specific project by a Westminster Government in most people in Wales’ lifetimes.
While this is significant, it’s a job that upon completion may at best be partially completed because of a failure to commit to the electrification of the Severn Tunnel diversionary route from Swindon to Kemble, in Gloucestershire, and through Lydney and Chepstow to the mainline at Severn Tunnel Junction. The regular closure of the Severn Tunnel for maintenance tends to be an issue at weekends. Historically the diversion added an hour to and from weekend journeys to Paddington – the line was only single track.
This section was finally upgraded to double track (completed in August 2014) and is the only diversionary rail route between South Wales and London, so the next step should be to electrify the diversionary route in parallel to the planned electrification of the Great Western mainline to Swansea.
Jonathan T Clark, Plaid Cymru Parliamentary Candidate for Monmouth Constituency
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