Hull issues new plea for electrification

Residents and businesses in Hull are being urged to support electrification of the railway to Selby and Sheffield.

Hull City Council leaders believe the ambition for electrification to reach the city is within touching distance.

“Unlike elsewhere on the trans-Pennine routes, work here can start straightaway and would be a quick win. Our plans involve few extra land purchases, no tunnel widening, and no re-routing,” said Daren Hale, Hull City Council and Hull’s representative on the Transport for the North board.

“Now it is our duty to get the support of our fellow local authority and business leaders, to ensure Hull is fast-tracked before the finished plans go forward to Government next spring.”

Should the plans be approved, it is expected that Hull-Leeds journey times would be cut from 57 minutes to 38, while Hull-Sheffield would drop from 86 minutes to 50 minutes.

• For the FULL story, read RAIL 914, published on September 23, and available digitally from September 19.