The Northern Powerhouse Rail project will help the country’s economic recovery post Covid-19, it’s Director has said.
Speaking recently at a Young Rail Professionals webinar, Tim Wood discussed how railway infrastructure investment can also be a crucial component in the government’s agenda to begin “levelling up”.
He highlighted how the Coronavirus pandemic has impacted Transport for the North’s delivery partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders, but said he’s confident the industry will pull through.
“Once we have successfully overcome this unprecedented crisis, NPR will be part of the solution in getting the country back up and running, equipping it for the future,” he said.
“NPR, in conjunction with other infrastructure schemes like HS2 and TRU, will transform the rail legacy left by the Victorians. That’s east-west and north-south connections for our 15 million people and businesses.
“It will enhance connectivity across the region, significantly reduce journey times and provide more services.”
The impact of the pandemic has meant a two-month rephasing of the final Strategic Outline Case submission to TFN Board, but Mr Wood says it has presented the teams with “several opportunities”.
These include progressing the Manchester to Leeds work “at pace”, pushing forward on other corridors such as routes to Hull, and allowing the organisation to feed into the Integrated Rail Plan in a better way.
He added that the IRP has to be aimed at delivering the long overdue economic, social and environmental benefits for the North, and provide the same high-speed railway as between London and the Midlands.
“These projects need to become greater than the sum of their parts and progressed at pace for the sake of the North’s businesses and passengers,” he added.
“The Integrated Rail Plan is a clear opportunity to now co-ordinate all major rail interventions in a coherent, phased 20-year pipeline investment, avoiding further delay and uncertainty.
“We stand ready to work with our northern leaders, the government and National Infrastructure Commission to unleash the prosperity of the North through infrastructure.”
