[steam for ever]

I don't wish to be objectionable, but to expect a line that has a lower usage (and likely future usage) to get preferential treatment over a much more promising counterpart (and one more likely to recover the costs) just doesn't make sense at all.

There is very little money in the government piggy bank at all so we are very lucky that the railways are getting any investment. I'm sure it will get electrified at somepoint in the future (although I still prefer third rail), but more important lines have to be electrified first.
The MML, which serves much larger centres of population is certainly a priority. Its just a fact that these thigns are down to raw figures, and the MML wins hands down.