Final recommendations for the new Northern Powerhouse Rail network have been made, with Government urged to support the ambitious northern plan.
The North’s leaders have agreed a final preferred route for Northern Powerhouse Rail and called on the Government to be ambitious when publishing its rail investment plan for the region.
Transport for the North has formally written to Government with its official plan for badly-needed rail investment over the coming decades, which could create over 70,000 new jobs in the North.
Leaders agree that now is not the time to scale back on ambition and say Government should commit to the full, transformational vision for both Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2. They say both will define the North’s economic future for the rest of this century, boosting jobs and growth.
It comes ahead of publication of the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan. Anticipated later this month, it’s expected to set out the long-term investment plans for the North’s rail upgrades as well as details on how the projects will be delivered.
Transport for the North’s statutory advice includes details of the North’s agreed Northern Powerhouse Rail network, including preferences for a mix of new lines and major upgrades including electrification on the network spanning from Liverpool in the west to Hull in east. It includes:
Northern Powerhouse Rail is a co-cliented project between Transport for the North and the Department for Transport. Both have worked on drawing up the plans, with the aim of radically improving the North’s ageing rail network, in turn creating thousands of jobs, economic opportunities and helping slash carbon emissions.
Once delivered, the network is predicted to:
Tim Wood, Northern Powerhouse Rail Director at Transport for the North, said: “This is the culmination of years of work on the original Northern Powerhouse vision to radically connect the North’s communities by rail; create jobs; and boost the northern economy for decades to come.
“Communities and businesses want to see certainty on what will be delivered and when in order to make key investment decisions and create new opportunities.
“We hope that the significant body of evidence, worked up alongside the Department for Transport, will be reflected in an ambitious commitment to investment in the North in the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan. We can then swiftly press on with joint delivery for the Northern public. We’ve done the work together, now let’s get on and deliver for the North together.”
At request of the Department for Transport, Transport for the North has agreed to delay submitting the business case for Northern Powerhouse Rail until the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan has been published.
As well as making specific recommendations on the preferred routes for investment, the North’s leaders have also sought assurances that they’ll continue to have a full joint leadership role in the programme going forward. The statutory advice calls for:
Under the proposed phasing plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail, construction is aimed to begin by the mid-2020s.
In response to the recommendations, Cllr Carl Marshall, North East board member for Transport for the North, said: “Increased investment in Northern rail services has been badly needed for some time and we are calling on the Government to commit to creating new lines and carrying out major upgrades which will have a transformative effect on the North’s economy.
“This will provide enhanced connectivity, capacity and frequency, improving journeys for passengers and transport links for the region’s businesses.
“As well as creating thousands of jobs, the preferred plan will also greatly reduce carbon emissions.
“Transport for the North should be at the forefront of this change, making sure that the North’s rail connectivity stays on track for a better future.”
Councillor Daren Hale, Transport for the North Board member and Deputy Leader of Hull City Council, said: “Improving east west links is critical for Hull’s economic growth, and these proposed improvements form a crucial part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail.
“The Northern Powerhouse Rail is a hugely significant project for our region, and we are pleased to be part of a journey that paves the way to better connectivity for our local residents and businesses.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “This Government were elected on a promise to level up the North of England and whether Ministers back this vital project in full will be a key test of that commitment.
“This is absolutely not the time to be scaling back on ambitions for Northern Powerhouse Rail and people here will not accept yet another second class solution.
“Northern Leaders stand ready to work with the Government to make swift progress on this project and, at the same time, deliver the promised additional investment in day to day transport services that is long overdue here in the North.”
Cllr Heather Scott, Tees Valley Combined Authority Lead for Transport, said: “We have been working with Transport for the North to ensure to push for upgrades to our network which will make it even easier to get to and from the Tees Valley via Darlington station.
“These recommendations would make connections to and from our region even more smooth and reliable for both businesses and tourists. They will help to ensure further inward investment and growth in our area while linking us to other key economic hubs, so we can reach our potential in driving forward the UK economy.”
Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and Vice Chair of Transport for the North said: “Now, more than ever, we need to increase confidence in the North as it will play a pivotal role in the nation’s economic recovery.
“Certainty is key to investor confidence and certainty over truly transformational connectivity will undoubtedly drive economic performance and increase productivity.
“I urge government to ensure that the Integrated Rail Plan adopts the evidence-led advice from Transport for the North, which not only comes from an inherent understanding of the North’s actual transformative need but has genuinely been devised with the interests of the whole nation at its heart in terms of sustained economic contributions rather than the lowest cost capital options.”