| Bath Spa - call for electrification. Posted by grahame at 07:56, 12th December 2025 |     |
Bath Spa is the second busiest 2-platform UK Station outside London - it's incredible how many people get off and on trains there which are calling at each platform ten times an hour, all day. And yet almost every train there is running under diesel power. Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath said in Parliament
Dirty diesel trains are still running through Bath, polluting our heritage city. As we look to improve our railways, we must include ways to make them cleaner and greener. We need a bold, ambitious electrification plan to deliver this
That quoted on social media, here is a selection of feedback comments
The new IET trains have modern diesel engines, and most of the HST's are now phased out, so not sure what the issue is with diesels polluting Bath
You can taste the Portsmouth to Cardiff diesels as they go past
Electric, Hydrogen powered and Solar powered trains are options for Great British Railways....
Bring back steam locomotives then !
So you also suggest electrifying the branch lines with routes going through Bath or closing them because that isn't economically viable?
Doh, Bath residents did all they could to stop the wires going through their beloved city.
Maybe you could also help with the increased pollution in the surrounding towns and villages that Bath caused with its “clean zone” - any ideas there? In reality, the problem has just been pushed out of bath and onto everyone else.
The UK already emits less than many developed countries. Until we have grid generation to support more electrification, we have to accept a small amount of pollution as the price to pay for public transport.
Currently the tax burden on the payer is higher than ever, and people are at breaking point - more tax won’t help and removing some trains won’t help either.
I think you need to reconsider this statement and avenue because it sounds utterly tone deaf and out of touch with the public.
The UK already emits less than many developed countries. Until we have grid generation to support more electrification, we have to accept a small amount of pollution as the price to pay for public transport.
Currently the tax burden on the payer is higher than ever, and people are at breaking point - more tax won’t help and removing some trains won’t help either.
I think you need to reconsider this statement and avenue because it sounds utterly tone deaf and out of touch with the public.
