A TASKFORCE aiming to get railways across the north electrified met with transport minister Patrick McLoughlin to urge him to go full steam ahead with their proposals.

Bolton West MP Julie Hilling — who is part of the electrification taskforce — said she hoped every piece of rail in the region would eventually be electrified.

The secretary of state established the taskforce last year to provide the government with advice on the next steps for the process of electrifying the rail network in the North of England.

The group met with Mr McLoughlin at Sheffield train station yesterday.

Ms Hilling, the only North West MP on the taskforce, said: “I think the secretary of state was very happy to see the work we had done and it has been good to fly the flag for the north west on the taskforce.

“The aim is to eventually get every piece of railway across the north electrified and we are in competition with the rest of the UK regions on this.

“We have made an excellent start but we must keep the pressure up.”

The first phase of Network Rail’s electrification programme has seen work begin on the line between Preston and Bolton.

This has resulted in projects to rebuild bridges in Station Road and Grimeford Lane in Adlington and will see major work carried out at both the Farnworth tunnels and the Orlando Bridge in the town centre.

This will lead to Bolton train station being closed at weekends for five months from May.

Mr McLoughlin welcomed the taskforce's report.

He said: “I want to see a rolling plan for further electrification and this study will have a vital part to play in setting the agenda for 2019 and beyond.

“Network Rail will take the taskforce’s findings into account as it develops its nationwide plan to improve the nation’s railways."

The taskforce’s recommendations will now be considered by the government as part of the development of a comprehensive transport strategy for the North.

An interim report on the north of England transport strategy is due shortly.