'Now is not the time to stop investment in North's railways'

Political and business leaders have called for a 20-year pipeline of rail investment to support the North’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis and unlock future potential.
HS2 must still go ahead, says Transport for the NorthHS2 must still go ahead, says Transport for the North
HS2 must still go ahead, says Transport for the North

Transport for the North wants a clear and coordinated investment plan and a role in deciding and delivering the schemes.

And despite the predicted recession and uncertainty over the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the group says that the troubled HS2 project and Northern Powerhouse Rail must go ahead.

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The group is making the case that the North not only needs major projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 to be completed in full, but also local and regional improvements to the existing congested rail network.

It’s part of Transport for the North’s first submission to the National Infrastructure Commission – the body tasked with providing evidence to support the Government in developing an Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this year.

Transport for the North says that only by having a clear Northern infrastructure pipeline of both road and rail schemes spanning the coming decades can the North’s infrastructure truly be “levelled-up”

And Preston features as an important hub in some of the ambitious projects,.

The group is demanding:

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*Speeding up delivery of shared infrastructure between HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail and consider ing the many opportunities to align both projects, such as in Crewe at the HS2 hub station, the Liverpool connections, from Leeds up to Newcastle, and the links into Scotland.

*Delivering better connectivity to the Midlands and Scotland, including developing Preston and Carlisle stations as key interchange stations for north-south and east-west movements.

*Explore alignment between major projects spanning east to west, not only through Northern Powerhouse Rail but also through the important Central Pennines corridor (Preston/Blackburn/Burnley/Leeds), including the reinstatement of the line linking Colne and Skipton.

Transport for the North says its plan would create job opportunities, reduce the reliance on cars, help slash carbon emissions and tackle a predicted post-COVID-19 economic shock.

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This forms part of the “Northern Budget” as set out by Transport for the North in summer 2019.

It calls for commitment to £39 billion for the full Northern Powerhouse Rail route, a £7bn northern infrastructure pipeline of road and rail projects, and £3bn to support the development and delivery of this work.

Barry White, Transport for the North’s Chief Executive, said: “We’ve strongly welcomed the Government’s passion for infrastructure investment in the North, and commitment to projects like HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

“It’s an agenda the North set. But there’s no point in doing it piecemeal. Now, more than ever, the North needs certainty on what rail schemes will happen and when, so passengers and businesses can benefit as soon as possible.

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"We need an integrated and sustained 20-year pipeline of investment in our rail network. It’ll be a vital weapon to combat the Covid-19 economic shock and secure a greener future."

Better rail infrastructure could get people and the economy moving and, in the long-term, support a period of growth that creates more opportunities”

Transport for the North became England’s first Sub-national Transport Body in April 2018.

The group brings together the North’s 20 local and combined authorities, as well as business leaders, to speak with one voice on the transport infrastructure investment needed to boost the North’s economy.

Its recommendations will be formally listened to by the Government.