Delight has been expressed by the West of England’s leading business organisation at the news of a £1bn plan to electrify the rail line between Bristol and London.

GWE Business West has long argued in favour of the improvement, which will provide a real shot in the arm for the local economy.

Managing Director, John Savage, said one of the reasons the Bristol City Region was so productive was its proximity to London.

“We already produce more economic output per person than any other part of the UK, outside London. With the improvement in rail connectivity, I have no doubt that we will do even better in the future. This will make our area even more attractive to businesses and it will draw more people to live and work here. It is also the first step in producing better links to the rest of the South West,” he said.

Electric trains are lighter and more energy efficient, they are 20% cheaper to buy than diesels and 35% cheaper to operate. They should reduce journey times, improve reliability and reduce the environmental impact of train services.

The project, which will take eight years to complete, will include the installation of overhead power lines and the demolition of some tunnels and bridges.