Government pledges support to electrify train lines from Hull

FIRST Hull Trains’ ambitious plan to privately finance the electrification of around 70 miles of track between Hull and Selby has been given a major boost.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has confirmed in the House of Commons that he’s made £2.4m available to move the project to the next stage of development, GRIP Stage 3.

Will Dunnett, managing director at First Hull Trains, said: “This is welcome news for everyone concerned. It is exactly what we asked the Secretary of State for when we met him in February.

“The scheme to GRIP 3 follows over a year of very detailed technical and commercial negotiations led by First Hull Trains which has moved the programme through two stages of approvals. I’d like to add it’s been supported at every step by colleagues within local government, MPs along the route and our fantastic workforce of more than 100.

“Electrification is a ‘must have’ for the region and will drive improvement to our rail services for many years to come with the promise of new rolling stock in time, better connectivity and faster services. I’d like to thank the supporters of this scheme and look forward to their continued backing as we move this project forward together in the months and years ahead.”

First Hull Trains currently runs 90 services a week between Hull and London King’s Cross, stopping at Brough, Howden, Selby, Doncaster, Retford and Grantham and the move would allow the operator to replace its Class 180 diesel trains with new electric rolling stock which would improve reliability, recue costs and bring added sustainability advantages.

Once completed, it is expected that Network Rail would take over maintenance with the special purpose company that funded and delivered the upgrade paid an access fee to recoup its investment from First Hull Trains and the other operators on the route.

Both Northern Trains and Transpennine Express have indicated a shift to electric vehicles would be likely to follow delivery of an electrification scheme to Hull.

First Hull Trains had originally expected to hear before Christmas whether its £94m scheme to electrify the 70 miles of track between Hull and Selby would get the go ahead from Government.

What is GRIP Stage 3?
The Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) provides the process for which investment decisions in the railway are made.

As a scheme moves through the various GRIP stages, the level of detail increases in terms of scheme design and appraisal. At the end of each stage a gateway test of the proposals is set, and a decision as to whether further development work on the project is made.