Dawlish News

DEVON and Cornwall are to miss out on Government plans being considered to run electric trains between London and the West of England – a move that could have made journeys quicker, cheaper and more reliable.

Marking a shift in Government policy, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has expressed his enthusiasm for electrifying the Great Western main line, and intends to make a decision on whether or not to proceed with a programme of investment later this year.

But the Western Morning News has found the Department of Transport is mulling over the move away from diesel-powered trains on busy links to Wales, Bristol, Oxford and Newbury, but not directly into the heart of the Westcountry.

Westcountry rail campaigners have expressed dismay that any electrification would not reach Taunton, Exeter or Plymouth, much less Penzance – the end of the Brunel line.
Despite the apparent knock back, commentators are hoping the Government's change in attitude will eventually bring about the much-needed transformation – a move the Westcountry had given up on.

Most electrification systems use overhead wires, which can be a problem to install through tunnels and over bridges. One major sticking point for the region is the dangers of having an electric line through Dawlish on the South Devon coast – a spot notorious for crashing waves and flooding.