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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