October 6: Questions still need answering on railway electrification

WE welcome the announcement by Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin that work will re-commence on the sequential electrification to key railways in the North to boost economic activity and promote social interaction (The Yorkshire Post, October 1).

Just putting wires above the TransPennine line from Manchester to York and Selby smacked of cheap, short-term and incoherent planning by Network Rail. Taking a little longer and developing a complementary package of line improvements is highly desirable. It has to be noted, however, that this will take at least four more years than originally planned.

Also Mr McLoughlin’s announcement is devoid of comment as to how this electrification will relate to the development of a high speed railway between Manchester and Leeds (the TransNorth or HS3 aspirations announced earlier this year).

Further electrification of our Northern railways is also required. In Mr McLoughlin’s announcement, the Calder Valley Line is slated for “improved infrastructure to deliver increased capacity and journey time improvements” but not so far for subsequent electrification. None of the other priorities in the late 2014 Northern Sparks report have been adopted.

The approach to electrification still looks piecemeal rather than co-ordinated across the network. Known skill shortages in Network Rail and amongst contractors also need addressing if further delivery hiccups are not to recur. Innovative and rapid responses to the opportunities the infrastructure improvements deliver will need to be implemented by the future franchise operators.

At least the demise of Pacers is endorsed by Mr McLoughlin’s statement. The announcement is a re-start after a nasty shock but much else will need to be delivered to realise the full potential.

On another matter, Leeds City Council councillors and planners demonstrate a lack of vision and are time warped in yesteryear in making their proposals to build more roads around Leeds-Bradford Airport.

The announcement of three options is short-term austerity thinking that belongs in the dustbin.

The airport should have a rail link built once airport passenger numbers warrant, and in the meantime requires a shuttle bus connection from a nearby rail station such as Guiseley.