TfN’s strategic plan ‘worth £1000bn’ to UK economy

ALMOST £100 billion could be added to the UK’s economy if Transport for the North’s (TfN) Strategic Transport Plan is developed and implemented.

TfN released its evidence on June 19, including a Position Statement, Initial Major Roads Report and Initial Integrated Rail Report. These will be used to shape the Plan TfN will adopt when it becomes the first Statutory Sub-National Transport Body in England, which is expected later this year.

Regarding rail, TfN has identified strategic improvements needed to services and infrastructure that will ease commuting, improve business links and create greater international connectivity. TfN will develop an integrated rail plan by the end of the year to incorporate development work as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail network, and research from Rail North. Nine strategic development corridors across the North have already been identified, including integrated and Smart Travel.

TfN said its identification of Strategic Development Corridors will take forward long-term Investment Programmes that will be used to develop plans for Control Period 6 (CP6), which begins on April 1 2019.

Speaking to RAIL on June 22, TfN Chief Executive David Brown said that the concerns around funding for CP6 were an issue, and that the ‘stop-start’ nature of the rail industry is not helpful. However, he said that the investment identified for the north would help create economic corridors and drive growth and jobs.

Asked why the plans didn’t include the reopening of the Woodhead line, Brown explained: “We have to look at what’s the best move for the solution. What’s the likelihood of demand. We have a clear programme.” He said decisions must be made regarding what funds are available, and that would mean looking at what improvements can be made using existing track and trains (or trains on order), before looking at the improvements planned (i.e. trans-Pennine electrification). At that stage, expensive projects like Woodhead could then be investigated.

“If you take Sheffield-Manchester as an economic corridor, there are two massive cities and the economic trade between the two is non-existent.

There’s a national park and hills in the way. We need to sort the connectivity, as it’s poor.”

Speaking about the new trains for TransPennine Express, he said he expected them to be full from the outset.

Brown added that TfN wants to reduce journey times across the region, but that the various options must be considered. “We could build a tunnel, but that would be expensive,” he added.

On the subject of connectivity, he said: “We want to say, is there a service solution? Then you start to look at infrastructure.” He told RAIL that the way he sells both Rail North and TfN is that they will come together and have clear outputs. “We will develop schemes with the funds available,” he said.

Brown said TfN will continue to fight for funding, but also questioned how the Train Operating Companies in the region will operate. “How will they deliver? Are larger franchises needed? I think Northern is a start. Forget the length of the deal, how can Government influence it? How do we lever in the certainty we need?”