GB railfreight managing director John Smith has told a Transport Select Committee that the Government should adopt what he calls "intelligent electrification". The TSC is looking at the future of railfreight, and Mr Smith explained that while parts of the electric spine are good for rail freight, certain rail corridors should be prioritised for electrification. He singled out the Birmingham to Nuneaton line as an example. Mr Smith claims that electrifying this particular line would permit wider use of electric locos to Midland freight terminals. Another advantage would be as a diversionary route for passenger services should the Coventry-Birmingham line be inaccessible. With the electrification of the route from Rugeley to Walsall, Nuneaton-Birmingham would be the only non-electrified route with a direct connection from the West Coast Main Line to the West Midlands.
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