DfT denies reports that Northern Powerhouse Rail is set to be scrapped
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Reports in national media over the weekend suggested that prime minister Boris Johnson was set to hold crunch talks this week with a view to axing the Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme.
Department for Transport (DfT) has said the reports are “wrong” and that there is no decision meeting this week on the high speed rail link between Manchester and Leeds.
The Express claimed that the investment was to be scrapped in favour of spending the £43bn funding on Crossrail 2, however, the Yorkshire Post said it has seen documents suggesting that the link could follow the existing Transpennine route through Huddersfield rather than built on a new route.
According to the Yorkshire Post, the leaked government document states: “A long-term vision for the region has been developed by Northern Powerhouse Rail which comprises a blend of enhancements to existing routes and brand-new rail lines, notably a high speed line linking Manchester and Leeds.
“This would form a transformational new investment for the 2030s and beyond, building on HS2. The TRU programme is driven by the need to address the more immediate constraints to achieving the strategic objectives on the existing railway (solving today’s problems).”
A spokesperson for DfT told NCE: “We’re getting on with our top priorities of levelling up and investing in northern transport. And the Integrated Rail Plan will soon outline exactly how major rail projects, including HS2 Phase 2b and Northern Powerhouse Rail, will work together to deliver the reliable train services that passengers need and deserve.”
Bradford council leader Susan Hinchcliffe urged DfT to invest in both Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Transpennine route upgrade. “Transpennine upgrade needs to happen but it should be in addition to, not instead of having Bradford city central as a stop on the mainline NPR,” she said.
Transport for the North interim chief executive Tim Wood urged the DfT to publish the intrageted rail plan to add clarity. He said: “Transport for the North welcomes any further potential investment by government into the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme after its latest injection just a few weeks ago of £317M. The proposals provide a step change in capacity and resilience for both passengers and freight and moves us away from an ageing Victorian railway between Manchester and Leeds.
“Transport for the North and its Members have long been calling for full electrification of the route and major infrastructure upgrades which will drive our economy, jobs and place making. We now await the publication of the Integrated Rail Plan by government, due soon to transform connectivity across the North including great cities like Bradford which has been held back for far too long.”
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