As we move into 2022, Transport for the North looks ahead to a year full of potential and sets out the key opportunities to enhance connectivity and encourage growth across the North of England.
The start of a new year is a fantastic opportunity to make plans and look to the future, and that has never been more important for the North of England.
Following a challenging 2021, Transport for the North (TfN) is ready to continue its vital work on behalf of the North’s residents and businesses.
2021 held much promise, and although we were sometimes disappointed, we must now look forward to how we can build on the foundations that have already been laid and harness the skills that exists in Team TfN in order to make progress with the key transport projects that will transform connectivity in the region.
We must use our wealth of evidence, much of it available through the Northern Evidence Hub, alongside key documents such as our Future Travel Scenarios, Transport Decarbonisation Strategy and Major Roads Report, to make the case for investment and then work in support of our partners to deliver improvements.
By continuing to act as ‘One Voice’ for the North, our 20 Local Transport Authorities and 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships, can offer an ambitious vision, one that is grounded in our understanding of what our region needs and deserves.
That ambition requires change: realising the North’s economic potential and enabling growth that is sustainable requires change: addressing inequalities that arise as a consequence of the current transport offer requires change.
Enabling economic growth, and improving economic productivity requires an efficient and effective transport system.
The start of 2022 will begin with the launch of our Freight & Logistics Strategy consultation. From supplying food to our shops, through feeding our manufacturing businesses, to supporting businesses right across our economy, our transport networks are the arteries along which goods and materials flow. The consultation will provide the opportunity to set out how we ensure those arteries keep flowing.
The early part of the year will see us continue our analysis of the Integrated Rail Plan as we look to understand the economic benefits of the Government’s Plan and its contribution towards the need to decarbonise our transport system.
The recovery we saw in rail passenger and freight movements in 2021 served to emphasise the need to transform the legacy of our Victorian forebearers into a rail system that is fit for the future. As TfN we will continue to make the case for the longer term ambition that underpinned our preferred rail network.
Levelling up will remain a key focus but requires a change in the way we plan for, develop and deliver investment in our transport system. It will also increase the need to align investment in transport with investment in energy systems and digital infrastructure.
Levelling up must be focused on delivering outcomes that are place-based and which must have the user at the heart of our approach.
We await the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper with interest, and continue to support our Members as they make their bids to the Levelling Up Fund for projects that will enhance the lives of residents, business and visitors.
The rail sector is likely to continue to face some uncertainty depending on how Covid-19 restrictions play out in 2022. Working through the Rail North Partnership we will continue to work collaboratively with Government and the rail sector to encourage people to use trains. At the same time this must be backed up by investment in key bottlenecks on the strategic rail network: we’ll continue to use the blueprint for he Castlefield Corridor in Manchester to make progress in addressing existing constraints and look to apply a similar approach when looking at the longer-term needs for the East Coast Main Line.
One question on everyone’s lips right now is where will Great British Railways be based? Of course, we hope that it will be in our region, and we will continue to use our experience of devolution in the rail sector to shape the future of GBR.
Our strategic roads will remain an essential part of our transport network, and there’s progress to be had on key schemes such as the Tyne Bridge, A66, Simister Island and many others. Enhancing the safety and reliability of our roads and ensuring they can enable improved public transport services and encourage active travel is crucial if we are to offer people choice in how they travel.
On a strategic level in 2022, we’ll continue to work with our partners and the energy companies on our electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy, we’ll be updating the Independent Economic Review and our Strategic Transport Plan, as well as continuing our Investment Programme Benefits Analysis.
There are many research projects in the pipeline too – covering transport-related social exclusion, how transport supports health and wellbeing, and much more, all demonstrating that transport is much more than simply getting from A to B – it is an enabler that can help us all explore new opportunities.
Martin Tugwell, Chief Executive at Transport for the North, said: “We faced many challenges and disappointments in 2021, not least the Integrated Rail Plan and its severely scaled-back version of Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2.
“As we go into 2022, we will continue to make the case in support of investment in these major infrastructure projects, along with the many other transport schemes in our Strategic Transport Plan and Investment Programme. Empowering the North’s leaders to prioritise its infrastructure requirements within a financial envelope set by Government is a key ask of the Northern Transport Charter. Managing its delivery as a programme, working in partnership with national bodies is the optimal way to help us build a new North and give our region’s people and businesses the opportunities they deserve.
“Bringing together evidence, insights, and strategic planning, Transport for the North speaks with One Voice for our region : 2022 must be the year to invest in the North.”
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