High Peak Liberal Democrats

The Woodhead Line

With regard to the re-opening of the Woodhead Line I appreciate the benefits that would ensue. As you may be aware, it is Liberal Democrats policy to support public transport, this being the best way to cut carbon emissions from transport without trying to limit people's opportunities to travel. In particular, we have set out plans to reopen thousands of miles of railway tracks and stations, funded by cutting capital spending on roads by £3bn, and this new Rail Expansion Fund would lead to the biggest expansion of the rail network since the Victorian era.

However, there are problems with the Woodhead line, particularly the use of the tunnels as a route for high-voltage cables which were installed in the disused Victorian railway tunnels in the 1960s. The decision to put cables in the tunnels rather than building new overhead power lines across the moors was made after representations to a public inquiry by the Peak Park Planning Board. These cables are now nearing the end of their operational life and need to be replaced to ensure continued safe and secure electricity supplies to Greater Manchester. I believe that the replacement cables are being installed in the third Woodhead Tunnel, which dates from 1953. This poses a problem for re-opening the line. In principle I do support the re-opening of this line, but these problems need to be addressed before any further progress could be made.

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