Electrification Schemes - North West England

[Whistler40145]

Does anyone know if the proposed Electrification of the following routes will still take place?

Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester via Chat Moss
Wigan-Liverpool via St Helens Junction
Preston-Blackpool North
Preston-Bolton-Manchester

 

[yorksrob]

I think it's a case of wait and see at the moment. Hopefully - it should be a priority amongst railway projects IMO to keep the rolling stock cascade going.

 

[WatcherZero]

Yes a case of wait and see, I think the governments still keen on them but Network Rail has voluntarily put forward the electrification schemes as a place where delays or cuts could be made without affecting service or safety. Now NR originally planned to do it with borrowing not Dft funding however the government as well as some sections of the media have become concerned with their debt level. Theirs also the argument that if thameslink stock order is cut back theirs no point doing it with nothing to run on it, already the electrification would be complete a whole year before any ex-thameslink stock could arrive.