But rail expert Christian Wolmar played down the idea of an electrified rail line reaching south Wales any time soon.

BBC: Railway line 'to be electrified'

The savings from Earl, said the minister, would be invested in improving rail services, including a planned electrified rail network between Edinburgh and Glasgow and routes up to Dunblane, Alloa and Cumbernauld.

BBC: Passenger boarding a train

Except that, whatever he says for public consumption, he seems to know the truth is that privacy invasion, for most consumers, is less like a lethal electrified rail than like a very hot bath: they just need to be eased into it.

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The southern end of the Cross City line between Barnt Green and Bromsgrove is being electrified, said Network Rail.

BBC: Artist's impression of proposed site

In fact, as Mr Johnson pointed out, the town's rail link to Leeds had proved so popular that not only was it electrified in the 1990s, but extra trains were also recently introduced to cope with demand.

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