The need for more railway electrification was highlighted on 31 May 2003 at a ceremony in Crewe.

MP Gwyneth Dunwoody who represents Crewe and Nantwich in the House of Commons unveiled a new livery for the class 87 locomotives which power the West Coast main line expresses and which are celebrating their 30th anniversary.

The class 87 electric locomotives were introduced in 1973, eight years after the class 86s which powered trains on the then newly electrified West Coast main line.

In 2003, however, Britain has failed to rise to the challenge of electrification. Both the Midland and Great Western main lines remain worked by diesels and even small infil schemes have been shelved.

Some industry leaders are now wedded to diesels just like some railway decision makers in the past clung too long to the age of steam.

But we can still celebrate the achievements of the 1960s and 1970s when the value of electrification was recognised.

Mrs Dunwoody who chairs the House of Commons Transport Committee, unveiled 87002 in a new livery of the Porterbrook Leasing Company.

The occasion was Bombardier's Return of the Legends Festival of Rail open weekend at Crewe Works (31 May - 1 June 2003). The locomotive chosen for the honour, 87002, is one of the 36-strong class built at Crewe Works in 1973.

87002 and her 35 sister locomotives were built in Mrs Dunwoody's Crewe constituency so it is fitting that she is able to join us in celebrating their 30th anniversary, said Keith Howard, commercial director of Porterbrook.

I am also delighted that Mrs Dunwoody felt able to unveil 87002's latest livery - which is symbolic of Porterbrook's continued support of, investment in, and commitment to, Britain's railway.

Mr Howard presented Mrs Dunwoody with a hand-painted model of 87002.

Currently in service with Virgin Trains, the class 87s are to be replaced by brand new trains over the next 18 months.

The new Porterbrook livery was applied to 87002 by Alstom Transport's Willesden Traincare Centre.

Nore information at Porterbrook's new website:

http://www.porterbrook.co.uk/english/frame.html