Rail users’ timetable chaos anger revealed

previous year. Ms Flint said plans for Northern Powerhouse rail to reduce journey times between Bradford and Manchester, for example, from 61 to 20 minutes was “the sort of language people understand – what is the difference these big infrastructure projects are going to me”.

HS2’s aims were initially defined by cutting journey times but in recent years Ministers have preferred to focus on the boost it will give to capacity on the East Coast Main Line.

Meanwhile, the Rail Minister has failed to guarantee that new East Coast Main Line timetables to be introduced in May will include the promised seven services a day from Bradford to London.

Replying to a written question from Keighley MP John Grogan, Jo Johnson said “the industry is reviewing proposed changes for the May 2019 timetable”. Mr Grogan said his answer suggested that “we are building up to another broken promise on the railways from Transport Secretary Chris Grayling”.

It came as Hull MP Diana Johnson called for an urgent statement from Mr Grayling after The

Yorkshire Post revealed that rail passengers from Yorkshire travelling to London on the flagship East Coast Main Line face months of disruption next year and into 2020 as planned development works mean their trains will terminate short of the capital.

Labour MP Ms Johnson also urged Mr Grayling to respond to the “timetabling chaos” which she claimed had become the norm in Hull.

The DfT insisted HS2 would “transform the North” and said its development should “take full account” of Northern Powerhouse rail, but insisted it would was “not feasible” to build the cross-Pennine link first ”as this would massively delay progress on each project.”