Bold rail plan electrifies the debate over public transport

From: James Bovington, Church Grove, Horsforth, Leeds.

I WANT to congratulate Harrogate Chamber of Trade on their highly imaginative and innovative scheme to electrify the Leeds to York line via Harrogate (Yorkshire Post, July 15), using surplus but refurbished London Underground trains and thus greatly increasing both frequency and capacity.

The plan involves electrifying the track but not putting in overhead wires. This is the system on most of the Merseyrail network. A number of new stations, such as a park and ride station for the airport and one near Pool to serve Otley would be opened.

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Rather than purchasing new trains, stock from the Underground to be replaced after 2014 would be used. The scheme would give us in Horsforth a minimum four trains an hour into Leeds during the day and a doubling of the evening service to two trains hourly, as well as increasing the number of available seats by 50 per cent.

Once electrified the line could feed into the scheme I frequently advocate for Leeds central area – rail tunnels with new stations at Leeds University, Dortmund Square/Merrion Street to serve the Arena and Leeds City Square. Later the tunnel could be extended to Holbeck and connected to lines to Bradford and Halifax to the west and Castleford and Goole to the east which are also relatively self-contained like the Harrogate line. A northern single track extension to Ripon and Northallerton might be feasible.

The Harrogate scheme, sponsored by the local business community, has received all-party support given the benefits that it would bring to Harrogate’s conference, tourism and retail sectors.

It would also greatly benefit residents of Horsforth who could effectively see a doubling in the number of seats offered.

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The cost of £100m is relatively modest when seen in the light of the social and economic boost that could be derived from such a fundamental improvement in the quantity and quality of the local rail infrastructure.

Will it happen? Remember that this is England and that in contrast to a range of countries – including Germany, France, Australia and the US, which understand the benefits that come from investment in rail services – the UK Treasury seeks to dilute beyond recognition all worthwhile rail schemes requiring substantial public investment. So I won’t be holding my breath. But for once there’s something exciting on the local rail scene.