According to a recent press release from EDF group, network rail has given a ten-year deal to Electricity of France (EDF) Energy to continue the supply of low carbon electricity to run the Britain's electrified railway network.
The growth of electrified rail network in Britain has increased massively carrying 3 million passengers and tens of thousands of tons of cargos each day. The EDF Energy is set to power mainly the electrified railways, which is bound to grow in the coming future for a better and a greener environment. Soon after the completion of the electrification in Great Western Main Line, Liverpool to Manchester and Preston, the "electric spine" from Southampton docks to the West Midlands and Yorkshire, Britain's three-quarter of rail traffic will be running electrified trains, according to the press release.
"Rail is already the greenest form of public transport and this partnership with EDF Energy will help us make it greener still," David Higgins, Network Rail chief executive, said in the press release. "Our work to electrify hundreds of miles of railway represents the biggest programme of rail electrification in a generation and will provide faster, quieter and more reliable journeys for millions of passengers every week while cutting the cost of the railway."
Higgins predicts a better future for Britain with the new means of electrified rail network across the U.K.
"Thanks to a firm commitment from Government to invest in electrification schemes across the country, we are transforming the railway and providing Britain with a sustainable, world-class transport system that is fit for the future," he said. "This innovative contract for low-carbon energy will provide excellent value to the rail industry and means we are not only providing a greener railway, but also a better value railway for Britain. "
"Network Rail is the biggest single electricity customer in the UK so this long term deal is a massive vote of confidence in our nuclear-backed energy," Vincent de Rivaz, CEO of EDF Energy, said in the press release. "Rail is already one of the least carbon intensive ways to travel and the huge investment in electrification will be backed by a stable and affordable supply of low carbon energy.
"The deal places nuclear energy at the heart of the UK's infrastructure for the next 10 years and serves to underline that nuclear power is part of everyday life in Britain," he said. "It's a big boost for EDF Energy following our success in winning the supply contract for the UK Government - which includes the NHS, Highways Agency and the Metropolitan Police - along with a deal agreed last year to supply the majority of Scotland's public bodies."
EDF Energy is the U.K's leading energy companies and also the world's largest producer of electricity. It is the largest provider of U.K's low carbon electricity produced mainly from mainly from 8 nuclear plants and provides electricity to over 5 million business and residential customers.
