Hull Trains and case for saving direct rail service to London – Emma Hardy

IN what now seems like another world, this Conservative government swept to power promising to “level up” regions in the North.
Direct rail links to London was one reason why Hull's City of Culture celebrations were so successful.Direct rail links to London was one reason why Hull's City of Culture celebrations were so successful.
Direct rail links to London was one reason why Hull's City of Culture celebrations were so successful.

In March the Chancellor promised to “do whatever it takes”. Surely then, the case for supporting Hull Trains should barely need making?

In the December election, great store had been set on the ‘Northern Powerhouse’, on investment in infrastructure and people.

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Yet the calls for support from MPs, business and local authorities to support Hull Trains have met with only lukewarm responses and an absence of any initiative from Government.

MPs are demanding assurances about the future of Hull Trains.MPs are demanding assurances about the future of Hull Trains.
MPs are demanding assurances about the future of Hull Trains.

The city of Hull was rightly proud when the first ‘Hull Train’ pulled out of Paragon Station nearly 20 years ago for London King’s Cross, heralding a new era of regular direct connections with the capital.

Despite doubts from many that there would never be enough demand, the service has gone from strength to strength.

The route has been expanded to serve hundreds of thousands of travellers and a brand new fleet of the latest Hitachi rolling stock has just been brought online through an investment of £60m.

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It has been a great regional success, employing 130 workers directly, and has played a central part in regenerating the local economies it serves.

Emma Hardy is Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle.Emma Hardy is Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle.
Emma Hardy is Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle.

Now, despite repeated calls from concerned parties in our region, we face losing a vital resource at a time when it has never been needed more.

Hull Trains is not a franchise operator but an open-access operator. Like the other successful northern operator Grand Central, which runs trains direct to King’s Cross from Sunderland and Bradford, it has increased capacity in poorly served areas and challenged established franchise operators on fares.

However, unlike the franchises which receive taxpayer subsidies, they rely completely on ticket sales for revenue.

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This has left them exposed to the effects of the pandemic in a way that the franchise operators are not.

With the financial support of Government, involving the transfer of all revenue and cost risk to the Exchequer, the franchise operators have been able to restart their services on a limited timetable following strict social-distancing guidance on the number of passengers per carriage.

Such a support package has not been offered to open access operators and their reliance on ticket income means that they simply cannot afford to restart operations under the current restrictions.

As a consequence, the regions served by Hull Trains and Grand Central are in grave danger of being left behind as the economy begins to move out of the difficulties caused by the pandemic and demand returns for transporting workers – and then others – to workplaces, businesses and leisure pursuits.

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These threats were outlined 
to the Transport Secretary 
Grant Shapps in some detail in 
a recent letter from myself and my two fellow Hull MPs Karl Turner and Dame Diana Johnson.

The response received from Chris Heaton-Harris, the Rail Minister, was extremely disappointing. Although it assured us the department was “actively engaged” with the company, it showed no signs of an understanding of the economic importance to the region nor was there any acknowledgement of the unique challenges the company faced as open-access operators.

It contained no commitment to ensuring the survival of the company along with the services it provides. Such a reply risks making the Government look out-of-touch and complacent at a time when the country desperately needs attention to detail and a sense of urgency.

Crucially, it risks the permanent loss of the company, and a stomach punch, to the region just at the time the economic impact of the lockdown begins to be felt.

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We face a huge challenge recovering from the pandemic and it is now time for the Government to make good on its fine words and promises to the people of the North. We need action and we need investment.

Sticking ‘Northern Powerhouse’ logos onto 
existing projects and a rolling programme of announcements and press releases is simply not enough.

In the face of the £1.6bn bailout offered to Transport for London, the fate of Hull Trains and Grand Central can be seen 
as a litmus test of the Government’s true commitment to the region.

Emma Hardy is Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle.

Update: A Department for Transport statement on June 10, 2020, said: “We recognise the decision Hull Trains has taken to temporarily suspend services due to falling passenger demand, as commuters follow government health advice and only take essential journeys.

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“We are working closely with Hull Trains and its owning group to discuss the full range of regulatory and Government support available and are keen to see them return to the network as soon as conditions permit.”

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