We expect an announcement on electrification this summer,' says Iain Coucher, chief executive of Network Rail. In confident mood Iain Coucher, Simon Kirby and Robin Gisby have been readying the industry to move from an operations and maintenance regime to an era of sustained investment in an expanded, high capacity railway. Control Period Three (just gone) was all about fixing the railway,' says Coucher, speaking at a press briefing in the City of London. Going on to stress that an ambitious future will see the industry making rail a much bigger part of society, an upbeat Coucher continued, We have an investment programme other industries would die for.' Electrification of arterial main lines in the west and the midlands along with High Speed Two will further boost the fortunes of Britain's top performing transport industry. Moreover the recession seems not to unduly worry senior rail chiefs. We are getting people with much higher qualifications entering the industry, some are even taking a mortgage holiday for a year to train and convert to railway project and engineering delivery,' says Simon Kirby, Network Rail's director of infrastructure investment. Network Rail confidently expects government go ahead for electrification of the Great Western Main Line and the Midland Main Line - see feature centre page spread - this summer. Scotland is set for further electrification under the aegis of Transport Scotland. Rail chiefs have been keen to favourably compare Britain's growing industry with systems abroad and other transport modes. Kent is the size of Switzerland,' says Network Rail's operations director, Robin Gisby and, London Liverpool Street regularly delivers more passengers than Heathrow.' Both comparisons illustrate the sheer scale of Britain's new rail industry. Prospects for rail look good. We are starting to build the south east of England into a 12-car operation. We are moving very large volumes of people. Demand is huge. No other industry faces such relentless growth,' says Gisby. The good news comes as Network Rail draws up plans to deliver the new railway during CP4. Meanwhile construction and project engineers are keen to join Britain's premier recession-busting industry. Most are combing RailStaff, railwaypeople.com and the rail engineer for the best jobs going on the fastest growing railway in Europe.
http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-news-articles/electrification-announcement-this-summer-1693.html
http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-news-articles/electrification-announcement-this-summer-1693.html