HS2 just one part of the solution to reviving North’s railways: Barry White

Yet 2020 could also be remembered for the start of a new dawn for British railway construction. The High Speed 2 rail project has finally been given the go-ahead and the Prime Minister has given his public backing to Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).

These two flagships projects will transform the British railway network and allow for a huge increase in capacity. What is essential is that they are built in full but also incorporated into our existing transport network in a way that brings maximum value for all passengers and taxpayers.

A major piece of work aims to do exactly that. An Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) is being devised by the Government, informed by a report from the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC).

We at Transport for the North, the country’s first sub-national transport body, are calling for this plan to call an end to the ‘boom and bust’ cycle in British railway construction whereby a major upgrade is followed by a dearth of work, leading to a dismantling of the skills base and supply chain.

We believe a phased 20-year pipeline of rail investment would support the North’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis and unlock future potential – and we need a role in deciding and delivering the schemes. That means that not only major projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 are completed in full, but also local and regional improvements to the existing  congested rail network to unlock freight and passenger capacity in the shorter term. 

We cannot let the immediacy of the current pandemic deflect us from making decisions that will affect our lives and our economy for many years to 
come.

The North of England has struggled in the straitjacket of poor railway infrastructure for too long. In particular rail connections between the belt of cities that run west to east across the North from Liverpool to Manchester, Bradford, Sheffield, Leeds and Hull is very poor. As is the connection from Yorkshire up to the North East of England.

Northern Powerhouse Rail will go a long way to addressing these problems. But there is also much we can do right now. There are a host of smaller upgrades which could be addressed quickly and would deliver real economic benefits.

Like the Castlefield Corridor in Manchester, one of the most congested parts of the British railway network, which produces delays that fan out across the North of England and beyond. Or increased capacity on the Hope Valley Line between Sheffield and Manchester.

It is this rebuilding of our railway network which will play a major part in our economic recovery from the economic contraction brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. NPR alone will create 35,000 jobs in the city centres of the North of England, many of them high-skilled.

It is only by having a clear Northern infrastructure
pipeline of both road and rail schemes spanning the coming decades that the North’s infrastructure can truly be ‘levelled-up’. Such a plan would create job opportunities, reduce the reliance on cars, help slash carbon emissions and tackle a predicted post-Covid economic shock. 

But it is essential that we allow the communities most affected by these investments to have a greater say in how and when they are delivered. Our members are clear on what interventions are needed, and that – as a formidable joint voice for the North – they should have a 
strong role in the decisions 
and the delivery of such rail schemes. 

We need to put passengers first in addressing short-term issues regarding reliability and resilience of train services. We need to deliver ‘quick wins’ on the existing network, with an immediate focus on Manchester and Leeds hubs, to accelerate the business case development for Northern Powerhouse Rail. And we need to meet decarbonisation goals to ensure transport choices are sustainable, support an effective freight network and address capacity pinch-points.

The Industrial Revolution began in the North of England, with the railways playing a central part. Now, in the 21st century, a new revolution can take place which will allow the North to reach its full potential as a world-class region to live, work and invest. We are ready to work together with Government to make it a reality.

Barry White is chief executive of Transport for the North.

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