Council bosses say major transport scheme with rail boost will “balance benefits to communities with cost to the public purse”

On Wednesday the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee released a report questioning whether the long awaited Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme could be delivered within its £45 billion funding cap.

The project will improve rail links across the north, and would include a new through station in Bradford – expected to cost around £2 billion.

The first phase of the programme involves improved connections on existing lines on these routes: including between Bradford and Leeds.

A later phase would see a new line built between Bradford and Huddersfield, giving Bradford passengers access to the benefits of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

The PAC report said it is not confident the Department for Transport has “learned all the lessons from past failures” and noted that NPR “remains at an early stage despite more than 12 years of planning.”

In response to the report, Councillor Andrew Judson, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Regeneration and Planning at Bradford Council, said: “Improved transport links across the North are vital to unlocking the region’s potential, helping to drive economic growth, creating new opportunities and supporting better access to opportunities for our residents.

“I recognise the concerns of some of our local MP’s around potential delays to NPR, but as one of the first major projects in the pipeline we are already working closely with DfT teams on this. There is a very tight governance model around the whole Bradford Rail Programme so we can help balance the benefits to our communities with cost to the public purse.”