Patrick McLoughlin: Rail upgrade plan 'paused'

The government is shelving key rail improvement programmes after Network Rail admitted it had been "overly optimistic" about completing a five-year £38.5bn plan.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said electrification work would be "paused" on the Midland mainline and on the Trans-Pennine route between Leeds and Manchester.

But he said that "electrification of the Great Western Line is a top priority and I want Network Rail to concentrate its efforts on getting that right".