In 13 years the Blair and Brown Labour Administrations managed to deliver just 10 miles of electrification across the rail network.

Compare that to the ambitious plans of the Tory/Lib Dem Coalition announced yesterday by the PM and Nick Clegg yesterday. The £9bn cash investment in the rail network plans to deliver 850 miles of track electrification covering the period 2014 to 2019.

As well as benefiting the Midland Main Line from Bedford to Sheffield £30 million will be invested in the electrification of the Walsall to Rugeley Chase Line which will speed up trains for those using the service and reduce noise and pollution for those living along the route.

We also noticed the mention of routing the Birmingham to Liverpool trains through Walsall. Could this stretch of electrification along with the reduction of congestion on the West Coast Main Line that HS2 will bring could see the introduction of direct links to London from Walsall?