Work to electrify the TransPennine and Midland Mainline railways is to restart under new plans, it has been announced.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has given Network Rail the green light to resume working on two electrification schemes.

The proposals were announced on 30 September after Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy agreed new plans with the DfT.

The rail company will work alongside the DfT and Rail North to develop a new electrification plan of TransPennine line between Stalybridge and Leeds and on to York and Selby.

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Previously, the original plan only changed the power supply to the trains.

The upgrade is expected to provide capacity for six fast or semi-fast trains per hour, take up to 15 minutes off journey times between Manchester and York, and be complete by 2022.

In addition, Network Rail will recommence work to electrify Midland Mainline.

Sir Peter Hendy is proposing that line speed and capacity improvement works already established are added to, with electrification of the line north of Bedford to Kettering and Corby by 2019 and the line North of Kettering to Leicester, Derby/Nottingham and Sheffield by 2023.

Speaking on his proposals, the chairman said: "The temporary pause in the programme has given us the space to develop a better plan for passengers. People can expect more services and faster journeys. We face some difficult challenges, and there is more work still to do, but the Secretary of State's decision means we can now move forward with our plans to electrify TransPennine and Midland Mainline."

(LM/CD)