Andy McDonald MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, responding to the announcement that the Government are to again delay plans to electrify the Great Western route, said:

“These electrification works have seen their cost triple and have now been shelved twice, with businesses and commuters being made to pay the price for the Government’s incompetence.

“The Government have proven themselves incapable of delivering electrification works to budget or on schedule, and this is yet another example of a broken Tory promise on rail.

“It is unacceptable for Ministers to renege on promises to deliver electrification of lines time and time again. The Secretary of State must reverse this decision and make clear that the Government will keep to their word and deliver the upgrades as planned.”

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