§ 55. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what changes have been made by the British Transport Commission with his approval in the main line electrification proposals included in the railways modernisation plan; and what effect these changes will have upon the electrification of the London Midland main line from Euston.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNone, Sir. The choice of main-line routes to be electrified under 384 the railways modernisation plan is not affected by the Commission's proposal to adopt the 50-cycle alternating-current system of overhead electrification.
§ Mr. RobinsonWill the Minister give an assurance that this will not mean delay in the electrification of the London-Midland main line; and will he use his endeavours to see that this work is put in hand as quickly as possible? It is urgently necessary for many good reasons, not the least being to make parts of my constituency tolerable to live in.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI understand from the Commission that one of the main reasons for adopting the overhead electrification system is that it will enable electrification to be carried out more quickly.