Rail electrification ‘would boost service frequency for travellers’

Any decisions about whether to support the scheme are likely to be some way off but campaigners say electrifying the route would allow trains to run at least every 15 minutes between Leeds and Harrogate as well as boost the frequency over the Knaresborough-York section of the route.

North Yorkshire County Council, Metro, York Council and Harrogate Borough Council, together with Network Rail, Northern and Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce, have been working with consultants looking into the modernisation of the line. It is hoped that having a business case in place will allow campaigners to be in a strong position to get Government backing when it is next handing out cash for rail schemes.

The consultants’ report is due to be submitted to the Government shortly and concludes that modernisation and electrification of the line “represent very good value for money”.

Sandra Doherty, president of the Harrogate Chamber of Commerce said: “This business case substantiates all that the chamber has been campaigning for since 2008 when we first highlighted the need for more direct trains to and from London and a higher quality, higher frequency local train service between Harrogate, Leeds and York.

“Many thanks are due to chamber chief executive Brian Dunsby and our rail adviser Mark Leving for all their extensive research and consultation that directly led to the adoption and preparation of this business case which
now confirms that electrification will be good value for money –ready for when the Treasury 
releases funding for more electrification – hopefully to follow 
after the Trans-Pennine line is done.”

Progress has already been made in the bid to improve the line. In August members of the North Yorkshire Local Transport Body backed a £12.5m proposal to modernise and improve services on the York–Harrogate–Leeds rail line.

It was recommended a contribution of £9.6m be made available from the transport body. This cash is provided by the Department for Transport and is ring-fenced for major transport schemes.

As a result of the decision more work is currently being done working up the proposals which would see double tracking introduced on a stretch of the line between Harrogate and York in a bid to speed up journey times.

The £12.5m plan is seen as an important step in the long-term aim of electrifying the line.

Although there is no assurance of funding at this stage the campaigners’ aim is to make the case for the project so when the Treasury decides to release additional funding for investment in further rail electrification the project is in a strong position.

Campaigners are anticipating cash may become available
after the electrification of the
line between Manchester and Leeds.

They argue electrifying the Harrogate line will reduce the cost of operating services on the route and help the economy by making it easier for people to access job opportunities.

It would also make the area more attractive to business by speeding up links to East Coast Main Line services to London and Edinburgh and the new high speed rail line HS2 which is due to be built to Yorkshire in the next 20 years.

The increased capacity on the line would mean cars together covering over 1.8m miles a year could be taken off the region’s roads.