Northern blueprint
Transport for the North says transport blueprint could generate £100 billion in economic growth and create thousands of jobs.
Transport for the North says its £70 billion, 30-year transport blueprint could contribute towards an additional £100bn in economic growth for the North plus the creation of 850,000 new jobs.
The transport blueprint was published in final draft form on January 31 - and was set to be formally launched on February 11 (after this issue of RAIL went to press) as the body’s statutory advice to government on the region’s transport priorities.
Its key aims are to improve connectivity for people and businesses, upgrade rail and road links, roll out smart ticketing, and to promote low-carbon travelling.
In addition to rail schemes already committed to or under development, early phases of the strategy call for enhancements on the Leeds-Hull, Sheffield-Hull and Sheffield-Leeds corridors, renewal of track and vehicle infrastructure on Sheffield Supertram, upgrades to Preston and Crewe stations and the creation of a Crewe HS2 hub, and capacity enhancements on the East Coast Main Line and stations along it.
Reinstatement of the SkiptonColne line is also included in the strategy, as are upgrades between Cleethorpes and Doncaster and at Stockport and Liverpool Central stations, and extension of Manchester Metrolink to link Airport station to Terminal 2. A new link and town centre station connecting Skelmersdale to Liverpool and Manchester is called for, as are journey time improvements on the WrexhamBidston/Liverpool line.
Longer-term aims include Northern Powerhouse Rail schemes to accommodate and maximise the benefits of HS2, a rapid transit link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, connecting classic and HS2 networks at Manchester Airport, and a new rail link to Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
Rail freight upgrades including gauge enhancements are planned, as well as more minor works to increase rail frequencies in Cumbria, the North East, Cheshire (including reopening NorthwichSandbach), development of tramtrains in Manchester, and other journey time improvements and capacity upgrades.
“The Strategic Transport Plan is a hugely important document for the North. It is our vision for a prosperous pan-Northern future and outlines how investment in transport could transform our economy,” said TfN Chief Executive Barry White.
“For the people of the North, this will mean more choice over where they live and work, access to higher-quality jobs, and better connections to friends and families. It will mean our businesses have more opportunity to collaborate, trade and grow in a sustainable way.
“This final Plan will be a statutory document written by the North, for the North, and will be our blueprint to deliver transformational change and leave a legacy for future generations.” ■ The full document is at https:// transportforthenorth.com/ wp-content/uploads/final-draftstrategic-transport-plan.pdf