We were dismayed by Network Rail’s recent announcement that the electrification of the Midland Mainline has been ‘paused’. We attended the protest organised by Leicester Green Party outside the railway station on Friday afternoon and we have now launched an online petition asking the Secretary of State for Transport to reverse this decision and resume the electrification project as soon as possible. We will be publicising the petition widely and hope to gain support from other cities along the route.
The Supreme Court recently ruled that the Government must take more action to reduce air pollution. It is astonishing that they would then decide to ‘pause’ a project that could make such a difference to our air quality. At the moment, diesel trains pass through the centre of Leicester, contributing to air pollution that causes an estimated 250 premature deaths in the city every year. Other cities in the East Midlands are also affected by this problem. The Government needs to start taking air pollution seriously and electrify the Midland Mainline as soon as possible.
The Supreme Court recently ruled that the Government must take more action to reduce air pollution. It is astonishing that they would then decide to ‘pause’ a project that could make such a difference to our air quality. At the moment, diesel trains pass through the centre of Leicester, contributing to air pollution that causes an estimated 250 premature deaths in the city every year. Other cities in the East Midlands are also affected by this problem. The Government needs to start taking air pollution seriously and electrify the Midland Mainline as soon as possible.