Railways in UK to Get Electric Makeover

The UK will become a little bit more eco friendly with the upcoming announcement that the train from London to Cardiff is set to be transformed into electric transport.

In an effort to reduce carbon emissions in the UK, the Great Western Line which starts at Paddington in London and continues through to Cardiff , Wales will be remodeled to make it completely electric.

The train, which also makes stops in Reading and Bristol, is scheduled to be announced as early as today.  Other routes expected to be announced soon include the Oxford to London commuter railway.

The projects will hopefully help the UK catch up to other European countries that have already transitioned to electric railways.  Currently only about 40% of the UK’s 20,000 miles of track are currently electric.

“Electrification brings with it the dual benefits of helping to make rail services more attractive to customers and drawing them away from cars and planes. It also relies on lower-carbon sources of energy,” said the chief executive of Association of Train Operating Companies, Michael Roberts.

The government is expected to announce their plans in the very near future, although particulars for financing the railway are still being discussed.  The London-Cardiff railway will be a first in many projects aimed at reducing the UK’s carbon footprint by 14% over the next 11 years.

Special thanks to www.news.carrentals.co.uk for the above quote, for more information please visit their website.