The North’s network has suffered due to fragmented planning and delivery of enhancements, and it is essential that planned significant investments such as the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail are planned as integral components of the rail network.
With these multi-billion pound infrastructure projects planned for the coming decades, it’s crucial the schemes dovetail to ensure efficient use of resources and services, while building collectively rather than separately.
Preparing for future growth in a flexible way will be essential to delivering a network that can support the North’s economy and people for the next century and beyond.
On the back of the Oakervee review and following a final submission from the National Infrastructure Commission, a new Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands and the North was announced in November 2021. It outlines how to develop and deliver HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail, the Midlands Rail Hub, and major Network Rail Projects.
It was presented to Parliament by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps who pledged the £96 billion spend would deliver faster and better journeys to more people across the North and the Midlands.
The views of our Board, as One Voice for the North, fed into the Integrated Rail Plan – reflecting the ambition and vision of the North for the national rail network. We want that vision translated into a realistic, decisive plan for delivery.
We have been clear to Government that we must play a leading role in decision-making for the North.
The plans in the IRP should build on the significant evidence base already developed through our work on Northern Powerhouse Rail, the Long-Term Rail Strategy and the Strategic Transport Plan.
Integrated Rail Plan for the North and MidlandsFollowing the release of the IRP, our Interim Vice Chair Louise Gittins branded the announcement “woefully inadequate”.
She said leaders from across the North and from across the party political divide came together to ask for a network that would upgrade the North for this century and in line with the rest of the country.
Our statutory advice asked for an over £40 billion network but the Government has decided to provide even less than half of that.
Our response in full
The government’s Integrated Rail Plan goes against the best interest of people in the North and fails to deliver the step-change in rail services that is the only sustainable, long-term solution.
Our Chair Lord McLoughlin and Chief Executive Martin Tugwell gave evidence at the Transport Committee inquiry into the Integrated Rail Plan. You can watch the session back here
Mayor of Greater Manchester, and TfN Board member, Andy Burnham also gave evidence at the session, which took place on Wednesday 2 February.
To read the evidence please click on the link below
Read moreWe believe an integrated pipeline of rail improvements that integrates the existing network with major programmes is essential.
This will allow economic benefits to build up over time. It will also allow contribution to wider efforts to decarbonise transport and move more travel onto public transport supporting the response to the climate emergency.
We said the assessment by the Commission should take a broader view of the investment required to drive growth in the North and improve connectivity to the South, the Midlands, Wales and Scotland.
To fully benefit from the Northern Powerhouse Rail improvements in capacity and connectivity, interventions need to look wider than just the cities, and allow those wider areas to interface with HS2.
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The government’s Integrated Rail Plan must commit to both long-term infrastructure projects and immediate local and regional improvements. We know that both will be needed as we look to rebuild our economies in the post-COVID-19 world.
The National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) Rail Needs Assessment was published in December 2020.
The report validated the vision of Northern leaders – recognising the desperate need to better connect the North’s towns and cities through new lines and significant upgrades as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail.
But in all the NIC scenarios, it would fall short of the full stated ambition of Northern leaders. That such investment in our rail network would also come at the expense of HS2′s long-awaited arrival to Yorkshire is a bitter blow and one we oppose.
Read our response to the Rail Needs Assessment
It feels like we’re missing an opportunity to get those really transformational benefits.
Transport for The North issued a response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) interim report on the Integrated Rail Plan in July 2020.
At the time we said it was really promising to see the assessment focus squarely on real benefits.
The decisions will look at how the investment will help in narrowing the North-south productivity gap, to better connecting communities, and reducing carbon emissions.
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The Government said in the Integrated Rail Plan that it will continue to work with delivery and subnational transport bodies, such as HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Transport for the North, Midlands Connect, and other wider stakeholders to continue to improve rail services across the North and Midlands faster.
We will be studying the Integrated Rail Plan announcement closely and will consult with our Board before giving our considered response.
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