Business and political leaders in the north have called for a “Thameslink level of commitment” to the , one of the region’s top rail congestion hotspots.
As the Northern Rail franchise on March 1, sub-national transport body Transport for the North said the new operator will “struggle” to deliver enhancements to the service unless work is carried out to improve capacity on the corridor.
The body has compared the issues at Castlefield Corridor to Thameslink, a cross-city corridor in London.
The leaders said northern rail services are “severely affected” by “decades of under investment” and spending on Thameslink shows railways can be “fit for purpose” if investment is made.
Transport for the North has called on the government to approve a Transport Works Act Order (TWAO) to begin work, including instructing Network Rail to identify costs for improvement works at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road stations, building new sidings for local trains at Manchester Victoria, creating more platform capacity at Manchester Airport station and developing track ‘fly-overs’ near the Ordsall Chord to enable trains to cross paths.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, said the Prime Minister should commit to investing in the corridor in next month's budget if [he] wants “an example of a ‘shovel-ready’ project that will bring benefits to the entire north of England”.
“It is time government gave passengers in the north the same level of commitment they have given passengers in London,” he said.
He said improving capacity on the corridor is “essential if we are going to fix the railways in the north”.
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“But, frustratingly, Network Rail and ministers continue to put it off and drag their feet.
“Building two new platforms at Manchester Piccadilly has been reviewed multiple times by Network Rail and each review has concluded that the work must be carried out.”
David Hoggarth, strategic rail director for Transport for the North, said effects aren’t just being felt in Manchester, but also in Newcastle, Teesside, North and West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales.
“Without resolving these issues it will not be possible to deliver a level of performance across the North of England that we believe is acceptable to the public,” he added.
Coun Judith Blake, leader of Leeds city council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority transport lead, said she is “fully supportive” of the need to invest in the corridor.
“The disruption faced by rail passengers in the north is in part a consequence of a failure to invest in rail infrastructure improvements.
“Decades of underinvestment has left the north of England without the modern, reliable transport network which is needed if we are to achieve our economic ambitions and raise living standards for all our communities.
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She said they will continue to call of the government to increase capacity at Leeds station, deliver HS2 in full and integrated with Northern Powerhouse Rail with a station in Bradford, as well an upgraded Transpennine route.
“It is vital that all these projects are developed and delivered in full as part of an integrated and coordinated plan,” she said.
David Sidebottom, director at the independent watchdog Transport Focus, added: “We want to hear when this long-promised improvement will get back on track.
“Government must now provide a plan, including this much-needed investment in infrastructure, to improve performance and tackle overcrowding to rebuild trust amongst passengers.”