Political and business leaders have formally expressed their “disappointment and dismay” at the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan.
Leaders from across the region have criticised the plan since it was released two weeks ago, and now the Transport for the North group has written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to set out its preferred plan for tail improvements in the region.
The TfN’s board says that improved rail services remain crucial to the future of the North’s economy and has requested an urgent meeting with Mr Shapps to discuss the region’s rail network.
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The letter comes after the Integrated Rail Plan downgraded much hoped-for plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 in the North, with the Government saying its plan brought improvements in a faster timescale.
Coun Louise Gittins, interim chair at TfN, said: “The North has spoken with one voice to make it clear that the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan in its current form is not acceptable. That is why our statutory advice to Government is clear that they must think again. Instead of this top-down centralised approach they need to reach out and work with local communities, and businesses.
“Despite our deep concerns that the IRP is woefully inadequate, the TfN board unanimously agreed that it wishes to explore with Government funding options for the delivery of the preferred Northern Powerhouse Rail: options could include local contributions, including through harnessing local economic benefits.
“We still believe that there is a way forward that will enable them to collaboratively move at pace to prioritise and sequence investment in a way that delivers the early foundations of a modernised rail system for the region. Instead of what looks like years of rail delays to build a network that by the time its finished will not be fit for purpose.
“TfN board members remain committed to the long-term ambition for improving connectivity across the North and with the Midlands. We remain firm in our collective belief that the board’s preferred approach to HS2 and NPR best reflects the unique opportunity to unleash the potential of the North, addresses the imbalance in the quality and extent of the rail infrastructure across the Ƶ, and achieves real, positive, and lasting change for the region.”
In an eccentric speech to the CBI last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended the rail plan and said it was “better” than what Northern leaders had asked for.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves - a Leeds MP - warned that the PM’s speech could have put future inward investment at risk and was the “final straw for a lot of businesses”.
She said: “I think it was very disrespectful, the Prime Minister’s speech – not on top of his brief, bumbling around, and he may think it’s funny and part of his persona, but people who are making decisions about hiring, investing and what country to do that in, I think would… go away, just thinking that we’ve got somebody in charge of this country who has no idea what’s going on.
“It does call into question his judgment and his seriousness for the role that he occupies.”
