Diesel is dying – let steam trains ride to the rescue | Simon Jenkins

The new rail minister wants to phase out diesel, and his predecessor hobbled electricity. That leaves one viable option

New ministers always go a little mad in the early days of the job. The new railways boss, Jo Johnson, will make a speech proposing to “phase out” all British diesel engines by 2040. He calls it an “aspiration”.

But diesel accounts for a third of all Britain’s trains. The only alternative form of traction is electricity, and Johnson’s ministerial predecessor postponed or abando...