PLANS for electrification of the main rail route from London to South Wales were welcomed when Labour unveiled the plans last year, but have come under threat since government cuts got under way.

Fears that the £1bn programme to upgrade the London-to-Swansea route could be cut as part of the Government’s austerity programme first arose in July when it was confirmed by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond that it was part of a wide-ranging review of government spending.

The plans – which were announced by the Labour Government last year – could now be shelved due to the coalition Government’s £83bn cuts programme.

Upgrading the Great Western main line could cut up to 20 minutes off journey times from London to Swansea. Mr Hammond accused Labour of announcing it in a “cavalier” fashion and that the scheme would be looked at “in the cold light of day.”

He added: “Politicians behave in a certain way in the run-up to an election. After a general election is a time for a more serious and considered approach to government, and for looking at things like this in the cold light of day.

“We are absolutely supportive of electrification but obviously we have to look at this project in terms of what we can afford.”

Under the timetable set out by Labour last year, the electrification of the line would have been completed by 2017.

Business leaders in Wales have been broadly supportive of the proposals, with the hope that an upgraded railway system could lead to greater inward investment and eventually lead to a high-speed rail network.

The Western Mail today asks the Welsh business community for their views on the electrification debate and what the future may hold for transport infrastructure.

‘Cutting this programme would put out all the wrong messages and signals’: next page

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