RAILWAY ELECTRIFICATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18448, 9 January 1922, Page 8

RAILWAY ELECTRIFICATION

BRITISH PLANS. Extensive schemes for the electrification of leading railways are now under consideration or have already been formulated and prepared for submission to obtaining State assistance in the form of grants-in-aid from the development fund or of “guarantees.” The directors of the Great Eastern Railway are considering the question of applying for the Government guarantee in respect of extensive improvements upon their line, and especially at Liverpool Street Station. In the case of the Great Eastern while nef definite details are available, it can be stated that a sum of some £10,000,OCX) will be involved, providing employment for some 5000 men for five years. The scheme, ; it is understood, contains plans for the electrification of the lines to Enfield, Palace Gates, Chingford, Ongar, and Woolwich, as well as tho main line as far as Broxbourne, and the Colchester , line to Gidea Park. The plans under consideration are of a nature to be carried out by separate stages if necessary. Tho London, Brighton, and South. Coast Railway is putting forward plans for the total electrification of its line to Brighton. The plans’are on lines which were thought out some years ago, but wore compulsorily “pigeon-holed” during the war. The company is at present proceeding with the electrification' of portions of its suburban linos. The larger plans now put forward will involve considerable outlay, ttt ip stated that the ’ electrification of the main line to Brighton would permit of trains being run every 15 minutes, completing the journey in 45 minutes.