Grayling ‘makes no apology’ to rail passengers on upgrade plans
TRANSPORT SECRETARY Chris Grayling remained defiant as he was barracked yesterday by MPs angry at rail chaos and suggestions that promised electrification of a key cross-Pennine route would be cancelled.
As official statistics showed rail performance on key lines which serve the region declining even before the timetabling chaos, Mr Grayling insisted he made “no apology to the people of the North” for the Government’s plans to upgrade services.
Ministers have been accused of “reneging” on commitments to fully electrify the Manchester to Leeds trans-Pennine route as part of £3bn of upgrades.
The botched introduction of new timetables on May 20 has also wreaked havoc for northern passengers who have faced widespread delays and cancellations.
Colne Valley MP Thelma Walker was one of several parliamentarians, including a Yorkshire Tory, to express their anger, asking: “Delays, non-accessible platforms, cancelled trains, failed investment, would the Transport Secretary like me to add broken promises of electrification to the list of issues with the Transpennine route?”
Mr Grayling replied: “We have already modernised the line from Liverpool to Manchester, we are about to start the £3bn modernisation of the railway line from Manchester to Leeds to York, so I make no apology to the people of the North for the fact that we are spending £3bn on upgrading their railway line when the Labour Party when they were in office did absolutely nothing.”
Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said: “For Chris Grayling to boast of his record on Northern transport following the recent timetabling chaos and as he plots to axe rail electrification between Leeds and Manchester is rubbing salt in the wounds for passengers in the North.”
A TRANSPORT Minister has promised to “look carefully” at proposals for restoring a rail link between Skipton and Lancashire.
A feasibility study ordered by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is being carried out to look at potentially reopening the Skipton-Colne railway line.
The line, which dates back to the 1840s, has been the subject of years of determined efforts to bring it back into use since being closed in 1970.
Re-opening the 12-mile route could create a faster rail link across the Pennines and lead to new passenger services between Lancashire, Skipton and Leeds.
In the House of Commons, Keighley MP John Grogan asked if Ministers would “look favourably” on restoring the link.
Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: “That is something we will certainly be looking at carefully.”