UK - Liverpool-Manchester electrification

[John Ashworth]

North-west commuters between Liverpool and Manchester, and vice-versa, will see journey times cut by almost a quarter of an hour as the rail line is electrified.

The £100m project – expected to take four years – was unveiled at Liverpool's Lime Street station, near the statue of Ken Dodd.

Weekends and bank holidays will be avoided because such work "infuriates" passengers.

The prime minister, Gordon Brown, said the development heralded a green revolution in public transport because electric trains are cheaper to purchase and run and carbon emissions will be reduced.

It is hoped the electrification will further stimulate transport improvements across the region.

From The Guardian, Friday 24 July 2009 12.30 BST