Hull Council leader issues rallying cry
INVESTMENT IS NEED FOR HULL’S RAIL ROUTES
CITY council leader Daren Hale has issued a rallying cry for key figures across the region to support the upgrade of railway lines in and out of Hull.
It comes amid growing speculation that the government’s longawaited integrated rail plan could be published on the same day as Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s autumn spending review on October 27.
The plan will set out the government’s long-term spending proposals for the railway network.
Campaigners are hoping they will include specific funding for the electrification of the lines between Hull and Selby and Hull and Sheffield after ministers rejected a privatelyfunded proposal to carry out the work five years ago.
Cllr Hale has written to councillors, MPS and business leaders across the region urging them to “collectively raise the profile for electrification and make it clear that the city needs and demands it.”
In his letter, he says: “In the current economic environment and without significant lobbying to ministers, electrification of the routes to Hull risks being dismissed as unnecessary and unwanted by the city.
“We must make our voice heard to ensure that the government is clear about the demand and the urgent need for electrification and the benefits to the city it will bring.”
Those pushing for the electrification of the line say it needs to be part of a fully electric Transpennine route between Hull and Manchester.
It could cut journey times from Hull to Leeds from 57 minutes to 38 minutes, and Hull to Sheffield from 86 minutes to 50 minutes.
Cllr Hale, who is a member of the Transport for the North board, added: “For years we have strived to increase our rail connection to Manchester from one train per hour to two.
“Instead, we are constantly pushing back against the proposals to add more stops into our service in order to provide a local stopping service for the Manchester and Leeds conurbations.
“We do understand that large numbers of people are seeking to move between Leeds and Manchester by rail but it should not be at the expense of another city’s only connection.
“In addition, the Bridlington service has been downgraded to peak travel times only until May 2022, completely removing the evening provision on this service.
“While this retains some ability to commute it will have a significant impact on our evening economy.”
Last month Hull North MP Diana Johnson called on ministers to speed-up decision-making on the Hull to Selby line after the Government confirmed funding for similar proposals to electrify the rail route between Wigan and Bolton.
She said: “All the arguments about rail electrification creating more passenger and freight capacity on faster, greener and more efficient trains that are being used to promote the scheme between Wigan and Bolton also apply to the rail lines into Hull and across the whole North.
“The difference is that the combined population of Hull and the East Riding totals around 861,000, almost double the combined population of Wigan and Bolton.”
However, Driffield-based rail consultant has been critical over Transport for the North’s track record in lobbying for rail investment in Hull and the East Riding, claiming the body had failed to promote rail travel here while focusing too heavily on Manchester.
He said: “We need a knowledgeable voice for the Humber region to demand our rightful place in rail investment and services as the damage being done to the area’s economy is significant.
“We win all the arguments with clear facts yet nothing is forthcoming from TFN.
“Our local representatives need to stop playing politics and put the blame where it belongs.”