Passengers need railway upgrades right now, say campaign groups
RAIL CAMPAIGNERS have written to the Chancellor, the Transport Secretary and Network Rail’s chief executive calling for overdue upgrades to go ahead without delay.
Campaigners from the Halifax and District Rail Action Group and the Upper Calder Valley Renaissance Sustainable Transport Group say they are extremely concerned about lack of progress by the Government and Network Rail on infrastructure proposals that should deliver improvements for travellers in the next few years, including the TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of Network Rail, was recently quoted as casting doubt on TRU, saying its scope could depend on the high-speed rail proposal Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR). But the campaigners say NPR is decades away and will not benefit stations on regional routes that desperately need investment now.
Last August Network Rail opened consultation on proposals to upgrade the railway between Huddersfield and Dewsbury to four tracks, with separate lines for fast expresses and local services and grade separated junctions (flyovers) to reduce conflicts in the timetable. They say this would enable improved services along the linked Calder Valley Line through Brighouse.
The groups is also calling for a rolling programme of electrification across the North.
This week marked the start of the Government taking over the Northern Rail franchise after a deluge of complaints about the poor level of service.
STEPHEN WARING, Chair of HADRAG, said “We need the TransPennine Route Upgrade to restore a four track railway into Huddersfield so we can have a better service through Brighouse and the planned new station at Elland. The TransPennine Route Upgrade opens up massive possibilities but now we are worried the Chief Executive of Network Rail is questioning the amount of 4-tracking. And we need full lectrification. Strategic routes across the Pennines including our Calder Valley Line need to be wired if we are to create a modern, reliable, zero-carbon transport system. The Electric Railway Charter will keep up the campaign.”