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Angela Smith: We must all work together to win the railway network our region deserves
THE last few months have seen the emergence of an exciting debate about the future of our railways.
Tantalising proposals have emerged for a second high-speed rail programme, linking London with some of the major conurbations of the North.
A decision on this is expected at the end of the year – but a
new high-speed connection is not the only concern of those interested in the future of our railways.
We need to build more freight capacity and to extend the conventional network in various parts of the country, as was pointed out last week in a report by the Association of Train Operating Companies.
And increasing numbers of people are looking to the railway system to reduce our reliance on the car, with all that could mean for developing more sustainable travel habits and reducing carbon emissions.
For Yorkshire, however, there is another key imperative when it comes to examining the future of the rail network, related to the economic deficit the region suffers when compared to the national average economic output.
The Northern Way group of regional development agencies has estimated that the deficit for the whole of the North of England is something in the region of 30bn.
In this context, it is considered that a new trans-Pennine rail link, aligned to a new north-south high-speed network,
could create for Yorkshire a much more dynamic relationship with its neighbouring economy in the North West and with the national economy more generally.
The estimate is that these measures alone could deliver additional economic benefit of 10bn, with a significant contribution made to the economic development of the North. These "agglomeration impacts" as the Northern Way calls them, are estimated to be more than twice those found in the Department of Transport's analysis of the wider
economic benefits of London's Crossrail and Thameslink projects put together.
So decisions on the future of the railway network are of critical importance to our region. Success, however, in securing investment decisions that are right for Yorkshire will depend on how effectively we make the case to Ministers in Whitehall.
The challenge is not to be underestimated. Traditionally, London and the South East has been very good at winning more than their fair share of rail funding. Northern Rail, for example, has had no new carriages in the last five years. And yet franchises providing services in London and the South East have had more than 580 new carriages in the same period.
The 2009 Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses shows that spending per head on transport in London was 783, more than three-and-a-half times that for Yorkshire, where transport spending was 213 per head.
Moreover, London has enjoyed the benefit of the UK's first investment in high-speed rail, with the development of the line to Paris and Brussels. The magnificent investment in St Pancras was part of this programme. This is to be followed by the Crossrail project to link either side of London, east to west, via two twin-bored tunnels under the city. The cost will be more than 20bn.
The people of Yorkshire should not assume there is no benefit to us when investment is made in rail services in the London area. Of course there is, albeit indirectly. But this is no substitute for investment which is designed to better integrate the northern economy and which provides a major boost to the North in terms of potential increases in GDP.
The case for this investment is clear, but it is strengthened when one considers that between 1995-96 and 2007-8 rail journeys in South Yorkshire grew by 43 per cent and in West Yorkshire by 70 per cent. Two thirds of all peak hour arrivals in Leeds carry standing passengers, while in Sheffield 40 per cent of peak hour arrivals carry standing passengers. Across the three-hour peak period, 12 per cent of train arrivals into Leeds are operating above maximum capacity.
Yorkshire, then, desperately needs investment which I will outline in a debate in Westminster Hall today. Our rail network is under pressure and investment is required to not only relieve congestion but to stimulate and grow our economy.
We face, however, the lobbying strength of London and the South East, a force which has delivered huge benefits to these regions in recent years. Their strength lies not least in their proximity to the heart of government and their ability to make their voices heard, loud and clear.
We in Yorkshire must do the same. We must unite and
work with other northern
regions to match the lobbying power of London and the South East. Already these latter regions have swung into action, making the case for more rail investment.
And while no one wants to see a region lose out unfairly, our case is built on the opposite, on making sure that for once Yorkshire gets the priority it deserves from the Department
of Transport.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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