CONSEQUENCES OF CANCELLATION OF CARDIFF TO SWANSEA RAIL ELECTRIFICATION

That this House notes with dismay and disapprobation the decision to scrap the rail electrification programme between Cardiff and Swansea; further notes that the National Audit Office consider the decision to have been financially driven; rejects claims that bi­modal trains could deliver similar benefits to electrification; believes that the decision will have an adverse impact on improving air quality, energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing services; is deeply concerned that the decision threatens economic growth and development in areas of England and Wales already suffering from poor connectivity and under­investment; is further concerned that the decision directly places 224 specialist skilled jobs at risk; further believes that the decision compounds existing problems with the feast or famine approach to work allocation which, along with short-term funding periods of five years and the increasing commercialisation of Network Rail, is contributing to casualisation of the workforce resulting in the loss of jobs, skills and standards; and calls on the Government to reinstate the electrification programme immediately and protect the affected skilled rail engineering jobs.