Ignore doubters on Yorkshire high-speed rail link, minister is urged

Senior Labour MP Barry Sheerman called on the Transport Secretary to “ignore the deniers” and claimed cities in the North needed high-speed links.

Mr Hammond told MPs that opponents of the project had identified themselves and their interests in it. Now was time for supporters to highlight the benefits.

He was speaking following claims by a group of business leaders, politicians and economists who have branded the project, known as HS2, an “expensive white elephant”.

In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, the 21 signatories, including former Tory Chancellor Lord Lawson of Blaby, dismissed the scheme as unaffordable.

The project, which could cost as much as £34 billion and involves a London-Birmingham new line and then eventual links to Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow was not what the economy needed, they said.

At Commons question time, Mr Sheerman (Huddersfield) said: “Could I ask you to keep your nerve on this, our cities need high-speed links, certainly in Yorkshire and the northern regions, and ignore the deniers, the climate change deniers who have been publishing letters this morning.”

Mr Hammond replied: “Those who are opposed to the building of this line have clearly identified themselves and their direct interests in it.

“It is now for those who will stand to benefit the most, particularly in our great northern cities, to voice their support during the consultation period.”

Mr Hammond later revealed to MPs that German rail company Deutsche Bahn was set to start services from Frankfurt to London in 2012.

His announcement came in response to Labour former minister Stephen Timms, who said: “At great expense, a station has been built on High Speed One (HS1) that says Stratford International on the outside but doesn’t actually have any international trains stopping at it.

“When is this rather embarrassing state of affairs going to be resolved?”

Mr Hammond said operational matters on the HS1 railway were up to the service operators.

But he added: “I can tell the House that Deutsche Bahn intend to start services from Frankfurt to London in 2012.

“I hope that other operators will start services. I think that’s good news for passengers in general and probably good news for your campaign - the more operators on the route, the more chance of getting additional services.”

Mr Hammond said there was a “strong case” for the electrification of Midland Mainline, which runs from London St Pancras up to Chesterfield, and includes stops in Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.

He said work was currently ongoing to improve train speed on the line but it was a different case from electrifying the Great Western line between Cardiff and Swansea because it depends on whether HS2 gets the green light.

“The difference between the Midland Mainline and the Great Western line is that Midland Mainline’s future function will be affected by the decision on HS2,” Mr Hammond said.

“I think it is right that we look at this question as one for the next control period in the full light of the decision that will have been taken later this year on HS2.”