Aidan Van de Weyer condemns failure of Cambs Conservatives to support electrification of East West Rail

The Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Aidan Van de Weyer, has condemned the Conservatives in the area for failing to publicly support the electrification of East West Rail.

Aidan said:

“I recently wrote to all MPs and council leaders in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, asking for us all to speak with one voice to demand that the trains on the new East West Rail line are electric, not diesel.

“It is hugely disappointing that none were willing to state publicly with me that they support the electrification of East West Rail.

“The government has said that it doesn't intend to invest in electrification, despite Network Rail saying that this is the only way of decarbonising the railway quickly enough as we fight climate change.

“This decision must be changed now. If we leave it any longer, the costs of retrofitting electric lines will be huge.

“The Conservatives say that they care about climate change. But when it comes to making the right choices, their claims are sounding increasingly hollow.

“We can continue to put pressure on government and local leaders by signing our petition calling for the electrification of East West Rail."