A PROGRAMME of rail schemes in England and Wales worth £9.4 billion was described as the "biggest modernisation of our railways since the Victorian era" by David Cameron yesterday.
New projects worth £4.2bn will take place between 2014 and 2019, including a £240m upgrade of southern sections of the East Coast Main Line which connects Edinburgh to London. The investment will provide extra seats on busy routes and ensure a greater proportion of the network is electrified, including the Midland Main Line between London and Sheffield.
The track beyond Cardiff to Swansea will also see overhead power lines put up, ensuring the entire Great Western Main Line is electrified, at a total cost of more than £600 million, together with electrification of the Welsh Valley lines.
The "Northern Hub" cluster of rail enhancements across Manchester and Liverpool will also go ahead, with some £322m of outstanding track and capacity upgrades approved.
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