Train of thought

Railcapacityandreliabilitylink

THERE IS a slight irony that Yorkshire’s rail services – so long a national embarrassment – are performing better now than they have done for many years when passenger numbers have dropped so dramatically as a result of Covid- 19 and many more commuters working from home than originally envisaged.

Yet, while this progress is attributed in part to operators like Northern and TransPennine Express not having to fully reinstate the pre- lockdown timetable, it does suggest that the region’s rail infrastructure was operating at full capacity and could not cope with the daily demands.

And while some Government critics will say that now is not the time to proceed with Northern Powerhouse Rail or HS2 because future demand is so uncertain, the converse is true – now is the moment to be pressing ahead with such schemes so more trains can run in future and, hopefully, be on time too.

After all, it needs to be remembered that many passengers were – prior to Covid- 19 – travelling in extreme discomfort because of chronic overcrowding on many of Yorkshire’s key routes and that a significant number of commuters, and also leisure travellers, will return to the trains once they’re confident, and assured, that it is safe to do so.

That is why the Department for Transport is pressing ahead with schemes like Crossrail and other infrastructure projects around the country – and why it is so important that this region maintains public and political pressure until this region finally has a rail service and network commensurate with the North’s expectations and future ambitions.