Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment his Department has made of the environmental effect of not proceeding with the electrification of the Cardiff-Swansea mainline.

The UK Government is committed to reducing emissions across the nation’s transport network. The bi-mode Intercity Express trains on the Great Western route will utilise modern technology and will produce less emissions than today. Once the Great Western transformation is complete the new trains will spend most of the journey between London and Swansea in electric mode, with near-zero emissions. In diesel mode the new trains meet the highest rolling stock emissions standards and will convert nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases into water.