Rail taskforce highlights key targets

THE electrification of six rail routes in the region  – including Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington Central –  in the region should be a ‘top priority’, the Transport Secretary has been told.

A taskforce, led by Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, has prioritised 12 routes across the North which have been presented in a report to the Government.

They are:
Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington Central
Southport/Kirkby to Salford Crescent
Chester to Stockport
Bolton to Clitheroe
Hazel Grove to Buxton
Warrington to Chester
Northallerton to Middlesbrough
Leeds to York via Harrogate
Calder Valley (Full)
Selby to Hull
Sheffield to Doncaster/Wakefield Westgate (Dearne Valley)
Sheffield (Meadowhall) to Leeds via Barnsley / Castleford & connections

The task force said it put economic growth and connectivity at the heart of their considerations, as part of the emerging ‘Northern Powerhouse’ concept.

Accordingly three core criteria were agreed: economic benefits; impact on services, costs and environment; and providing better train capacity and quality.

Mr Jones said: “It is a comprehensive report detailing where we think the priorities lie for rail electrification in the north. We have placed economic growth at the heart of this project and been working on the premise that all the lines of the north would be electrified, it is only a question of when. This report details where it should start.

“The work has been a real team effort. The task force has brought together different political parties, different regions of the north and different tiers of government. It is a report from the north for the north.

“The need for rail electrification is significant. It is part of the improvements in infrastructure that we need in the north. We know how much there is to do and to do it we are looking at a task of generational scale. Indeed, this report is intended to look years ahead.”

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin welcomed the report, saying: “Between 2014 and 2019 more than £38bn is being spent to improve and maintain our national rail network as part of the government’s long term economic plan.

“Electrification of the railways is a key part of that investment programme. The electrification programme is central to our ambitious plans to transform the rail network across the country. It will enable the modern fleet of electric trains to run on the network, providing faster and more reliable journeys.
 
“I am grateful to the members of the Task Force for their work. I want to see a rolling plan for further electrification and this study will have a vital part to play in setting the agenda for 2019 and beyond.”