‘I will put passengers first’ says transport minister
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling came out fighting yesterday after a summer of criticism from the North. He spoke to Political Editor James Reed
TRANSPORT SECRETARY Chris Grayling has insisted he is putting passengers’ interests first as he hit back after a summer of criticism over the Government’s plans to improve journeys in the North.
Mr Grayling defended the decision to abandon proposals to electrify the stretch of the Midland Mainline between Sheffield and Nottingham, arguing it would have had a negligible impact on journey times.
He insisted no final decision had been taken on electrification of the main trans-Pennine rail route between Leeds and Manchester after criticism at his suggestion in July that bi-mode trains, running on electric and diesel, might be used instead.
The Transport Secretary also took aim at Labour mayors and council leaders for suggesting the Government is not interested in the North while unconditionally supporting further investment in London.
Mr Grayling addressed audiences of business people in Manchester and Leeds, before visiting The Yorkshire Post, in a bid to counter negative headlines.
A SERIES OF announcements and comments made over five days in July was enough to unleash a long summer of criticism of the Government and questions over its commitment to the North.
Starting with his decision to scrap electrification of a stretch of the Midland Mainline and ending with his supportive comments about a second Crossrail project in London, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling became the target of sustained attacks from think-tanks, business groups, politicians and the media in the North.
The storm culminated in a summit in Leeds demanding the Government recommit to transport improvements in the North including clear timetables for delivery.
Yesterday, Mr Grayling travelled to Manchester and Leeds to deliver his response.
“I’m well aware there’s lots to do, but actually I’m pretty proud of the things that are happening now and some of the things that have been said about future plans are just not right,” he told The Yorkshire Post.
Mr Grayling argued his support for Crossrail 2 in the capital was overstated.
“The issue with Crossrail 2 is that in the same way that Crossrail 1 was funded, London needs to make a substantial contribution to it. A lot of the money for Crossrail 1 came from London.
“We are nowhere near the point yet where London has actually been able to come up with sufficient funding to make the project happen.”
He also defended the decision to scrap plans to electrify the stretch of the Midland Mainline between Nottingham and Sheffield, an announcement that came just days before he apparently expressed support for Crossrail 2.
“We are about to embark on the biggest modernisation programme of the Midland Mainline since the 1870s.
“Over the next four years we are straightening tracks, putting new signalling in, additional line capacity, electrification, new trains. That will, by around 2020, take around 20 minutes off the journey time between London and Sheffield.
“I could then finish the electrification of every inch of the route, that will cost nearly £1bn more and save one extra minute on the journey time to Sheffield.”
Mr Grayling said the use of bi-mode trains, which can run on diesel or electric, could deliver the same benefits as full electrification on the route.
“What matters to the passengers is the journey time, the comfortable train, not how the train is powered,” he said.
But despite extolling the virtues of bi-mode trains, he insisted no final decision had been taken on whether the complete electrification of the trans-Pennine route will goahead.
“I haven’t announced any changes at all. I haven’t got on my desk yet the Network Rail plans for that route.
“There’s a £3bn investment plan that’s going ahead.”
He continued: “What I have said is that the arrival of bi-mode technology means you have options you didn’t have before.
“For example is it really logical to close the Standedge Tunnel for six weeks if the same trains you are using on that route can travel through the same tunnel without that happening?
“It doesn’t mean you don’t electrify the rest of the route but it does mean if you get a complicated piece you don’t need to. The reason it’s better to have bi-mode trains on that route means, for example, you can keep modern trains running from Scarborough to Manchester Airport.
“Nobody is planning to electrify to Scarborough at the moment.
“A hybrid train can go on electric mode when there’s electric tracks and carry on under its own power.
“There is no restriction, if a line’s electric or diesel the same train can run.”
The last major storm to engulf the Government over rail plans came when, just weeks after the 2015 General Election, the trans-Pennine and Midland Mainline projects were put on hold as their timetables were reviewed.
Mr Grayling’s announcement of the decision not to electrify the Midland Mainline came shortly after June’s General Election but the minister insisted voters had not been deceived.
“What I want people to start thinking about is what are we trying to achieve for the passenger?
“We get very caught up in infrastructure and systems. We don’t actually think about what we are trying to achieve.
“What we are trying to achieve is big modernisation programmes that introduce better journey times and nice new trains and that’s what we are doing.”
Then chancellor George Osborne promised the Government would deliver a trans-Pennine high speed rail service dubbed Northern Powerhouse Rail or HS3 offering a 30-minute journey time between Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield.
The current administration has continued that pledge and the summer has seen calls for Mr Grayling to set out a clear timetable and budget for the project.
He said: “Northern Powerhouse Rail is in our manifesto so it is a project we are committed to.
“What we need to establish is exactly what Northern Powerhouse Rail is. It is not the same as HS2 because it is east-west and the distances are shorter.
“It is going to be more bespoke and meets the needs of the North.”
Mr Grayling said he had been presented with the latest proposals from Transport for the North (TfN), the body set up to drive major transport projects in the North of England in recent days.
The Transport Secretary expressed irritation at criticism from Labour leaders in the North who help oversee rail franchises through and design future transport plans through TfN.
He said: “It is a tiny bit frustrating when they are talking about a lack of transport investment but not talking about things that are happening.
“I don’t mind them asking for more transport investment, that’s perfectly reasonable, but there are things we are already doing.
“I’m not sitting here as somebody thinking ‘we are not doing anything, I’m really embarrassed about this’, because we are doing things.
“I’m not saying there’s not more to do, I know the North well enough to know there’s plenty more to do.”
I’m pretty proud of the things that are happening now Transport Secretary Chris Grayling
CHRIS GRAYLING was left in no doubt about the strength of public feeling when he visited The Yorkshire Post’s offices to discuss the political backlash over delays – and changes – to the Government’s rail improvement programme in the North. To be fair, the Transport Secretary took on board concerns and criticisms before reassuring commuters here that he is still fully committed to upgrading the two key routes that have been at the centre of so much controversy.
First the Midland Mainline from Sheffield to London. It is Mr Grayling’s view that bi-modal trains will be far more effective in reducing journey times by up to 20 minutes rather than the electrification of the whole route, and that this will offer greater value for money.
As for the TransPennine line, he says the section of track linking Manchester and Liverpool has already been upgraded but the geography of the line, and deep tunnels dating back to the Victorian era, mean that up-to-date bi-modal trains are likely to deliver greater benefits than any attempt to erect overhead power lines under the ground.
The Minister says new trains are due to come into service from 2019 when improvements to the track will begin incrementally. Once started, he told this newspaper that the work will be finished, though he offered no definitive completion date.
Mr Grayling knows full well that Yorkshire taxpayers will judge him on his actions – and not his words. And, while he’s right to highlight the lack of investment made by the last Labour government, the Tories have been in power for seven years and there is anxiety that London projects, like Crossrail 2, will take precedence over long-overdue improvements here. Until this region has a railway that matches the ambition of the Northern Powerhouse, this newspaper will, for one, be maintaining the pressure on Ministers like Mr Grayling on your behalf.