Delay to make sure Northern Powerhouse Rail is 'balanced east and west of the Pennines'
The delay in announcing Northern Powerhouse Rail is in part to make sure that the project “is balanced east and west of the Pennines”, the Transport Secretary has said.
Heidi Alexander said she hoped “to be able to say more on that in the next couple of months”, before adding: “We are fully committed to ensuring the great cities of the North of England have rail connectivity.”
Ms Alexander was responding to questions from the Transport Committee as part of her biannual appearance in front of the cross-party group of MPs.
One of chair Ruth Cadbury’s first questions was for an update on NPR, the long-awaited high-speed line to connect the North’s cities.
The scheme was first promised by Boris Johnson and then effectively mothballed when Rishi Sunak cancelled the northern leg of HS2.
Rachel Reeves initially revealed her intention to announce plans for the long-promised high-speed rail project at the Spending Review in June.
However, this has been repeatedly delayed, with ITV News now reporting it could be pushed back until 2026.
A Labour source said that there is “no doubt” of Ms Reeves’ commitment, before adding that the Treasury is “not holding it up”.
Ms Alexander told MPs: “I do think it makes sense to take our time on this and make sure that investment decisions are the correct one.
“I want to make sure it is balanced east and west of the Pennines, because there is huge opportunity in cities like Liverpool and Manchester, but equally in Yorkshire.”
The Transport Secretary praised the White Rose collaboration between Yorkshire’s three Labour mayors - Tracy Brabin, Oliver Coppard and David Skaith - to say “we also think that we can unlock real productivity improvements east of the Pennines as well as west”.
The Yorkshire Post was told that while most of the detail had been finalised in Yorkshire, the delays to the announcement were due to debate in the North West.
West Yorkshire Mayor Ms Brabin previously said: “There is a balancing act with the funds available, but we know there is more to the North than one side of the Pennines.
“You cannot grow the economy unless you get Manchester to Leeds and that connectivity sorted, and then on to Sheffield to connect our investment zones, universities and creative industries.”
However, earlier this week northern mayors in the Great North group - including all four from Yorkshire as well as Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram - wrote to the Chancellor urging her to deliver NPR in full.
It appears that they have formed a consensus around what the project should look like.
This would be a new line from Liverpool to Manchester, via Manchester Airport, which would continue onwards to Huddersfield and Leeds through a new station in Bradford.
The letter also calls for the electrification of the Leeds to Sheffield line, and the reopening of the Leamside Line to ensure effective services through to Sheffield, Hull and the North East.
Northern Powerhouse Partnership chief executive Henri Murison said: “The Treasury have made clear that Northern Powerhouse Rail will be a key part of their plan for a Northern Growth Corridor to drive up productivity in the long term national interest.”
“We will continue to engage constructively with ministers and the newly appointed government envoy.
“A sequenced and funded plan is essential, and the private sector has written openly to make the case.”