Transport for the North has welcomed the launch of the Rail Delivery Group’s ‘In Partnership for Britain’s Prosperity’ Plan, which brings together train companies, Network Rail, and suppliers around a plan for a changing and improving railway.
The plan, backed by business and passenger groups, makes four commitments for change and sets out how Britain’s public and private ‘partnership railway’ will secure almost £85bn of additional economic benefits to the country and enable further improvements.
Nick Donovan, Transport for the North’s Northern Powerhouse Rail Director, said, “We welcome this plan to enable a better railway for Britain, and support its four commitments to improve the rail industry and local economies for passengers. We are also pleased to receive backing for our Northern Powerhouse Rail programme as part of the plan’s commitment to boost local communities through localised decision making and investment.
“Working together as an industry we can optimise investment in rail to provide maximum passenger and economic benefits.
“Transport for the North’s Strategic Transport Plan, which will soon be published, builds upon these commitments and will include an initial long-term investment programme for the North of England. A key part of this is the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme which can increase the number of passengers within an hour’s travel of four or more major cities in the North from just 10,000 to 1.3 million.”
Speaking at the launch of In Partnership for Britain’s Prosperity, Paul Plummer, Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which brings together train operators and Network Rail to enable a better railway, said, “Today is a landmark coming together. This plan, delivered by a changing partnership railway, will secure the economic benefits from current investment by the public and private sectors, and enable further improvement and investment.
“That’s why today, we are making four commitments for change to safeguard our economic contribution whilst delivering the best deal for taxpayers, to improve services for customers, better connect local communities and secure more jobs in rail. This plan will deliver the railway that the economy, customers and communities need as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.”
Full details of the plan are available on the Britain Runs on Rail website.