Hull rail electrification breakthrough

Diana Johnson MP has welcomed the announcement that Hull will be included when the £1bn TransPennine Express fleet of new battery-electric trains come into service in 2034.

The Hull North and Cottingham Labour MP said:

“This breakthrough means that the network of cleaner, more reliable and faster battery-electric Northern Powerhouse Rail trains will come all the way to Hull, backed up with the required infrastructure in Hull, by the mid-2030s.

“Faster electric trains will expand capacity in the rail network and enable improvements to be made in the frequency of direct services to destinations all the way across the North between Hull and Liverpool.

“The greater connectivity will also help boost productivity in the North and economic growth nationally.

“Transpennine Express, Great British Rail and our Government are also sending a message to the whole rail industry about moving forward on eliminating polluting diesel in rail routes throughout Northern England and beyond.

“The long cross-party campaign by Humber MPs for electrification of rail routes to Hull will not end until we actually see these new battery bi-modal trains in the 2030s, because we know that Reform are opposed to Northern Powerhouse Rail and are committed to axing it if they are given the chance.”