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MP attacks second-hand train plan
MINISTERS have been accused of leaving Yorkshire commuters to travel on overcrowded trains for years before they fob the region off with "hand-me-down" extra carriages.
Greg Mulholland, Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, said the idea of Yorkshire commuters receiving second-hand carriages no longer needed when the Manchester to Liverpool line is electrified would not "sit comfortably" with passengers.
It followed Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis telling him that the region would have to wait for the promised carriages until after the improvements to services in the North West.
Mr Mulholland's outburst came as Gordon Brown and David Cameron both yesterday committed themselves to high-speed rail in speeches to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference.
Several MPs from the region have spoken out after it emerged Northern Rail would not be getting the 182 new carriages it had been promised by the Government to ease overcrowding.
After Mr Mulholland raised the issue in the Commons last month, he has now received a letter from Lord Adonis saying future rolling stock requirements are being reviewed in light of the Government's decision to invest 1.1bn electrifying lines including between Liverpool and Manchester over the next four years. By 2017, the Great Western Main Line should also be electrified.
"Clearly it would not be sensible to procure new diesel trains, only for them to be replaced by electric trains just a few years afterwards," said Lord Adonis.
"Electrification will free up large numbers of diesel commuter trains which currently operate on the Great Western Main Line and on the route between Liverpool and Manchester. This will release vehicles that can be deployed to deliver additional capacity elsewhere in the country, including in key northern cities."
But Mr Mulholland was unimpressed by the explanation and Lord Adonis' pledge to provide a first wave of extra carriages for the busiest Northern Rail services "as soon as possible".
"The idea of Yorkshire having to wait for much needed extra trains until after the line servicing Manchester has been electrified is going to sit very uncomfortably with many of us," he said.
"People have the right to question the sincerity of a Government that preaches greater use of public transport but then inflicts overcrowded trains and hand-me-down replacements from other regions on one of the biggest and fastest growing cities in the UK."
A Northern Rail spokesman said the rolling stock review would see trains moved between operators "to make the best use of train fleets".
She added: "We are pushing hard to get the right outcome for our passengers and to secure further improvements in the quality of the service we deliver."
Yesterday the party leaders turned their attention to high-speed rail, with Government expected to receive recommendations on routes from London to Scotland next month.
The Prime Minister, who has been persuaded of the benefits of 200mph trains by Lord Adonis, said a Europe-wide network was "within our grasp".
"Let me tell you what we could ultimately achieve: a European network of train services that takes us quickly not just to Paris and Brussels but quickly to Cologne and to Amsterdam," he said. "And one that starts not just in London but in the north of our country."
He said journey times from Scotland to London could fall from four hours twenty minutes, to under three hours eventually.
Mr Cameron said: "We're going to revolutionise our transport system by laying down the tracks of a high speed rail link between London and Leeds, taking in Birmingham and Manchester."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -5 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
