Call to electrify rail link across North

‘ Transpennine chance for levelling up’

TRANSPORT: Campaigners say Government backing for electrification of the Transpennine rail route would signal that it is serious about levelling up the North.

Huddersfield Unlimited and Huddersfield Civic Society say electrification is “an immediate and tangible opportunity” to help drive the North’s economy.

CAMPAIGN GROUPS have said Government backing for the full electrification of the Transpennine rail route between York and Manchester would signal that it is serious about levelling up the North.

Huddersfield Unlimited and Huddersfield Civic Society say electrification, which has been twice postponed, represents “an immediate and tangible opportunity” to help drive the economy of towns like Huddersfield in the right direction.

Both organisations have written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps asking him to demonstrate his commitment to full electrification of the entire Transpennine route, which was announced in July.

In their joint letter Sir John Harman, chair of Huddersfield Unlimited, and David Wyles, chair of Huddersfield Civic Society, have urged the Government not to pass up “the best short- to medium- term opportunity of ‘ levelling up’ for the North.”

Their exhortation comes as national decisions on rail investment are imminent.

They say published plans for the upgrade of the railway between Huddersfield and Westtown ( Dewsbury) reveal “consequent benefits” for the environment, service performance and de- carbonisation, but that the wider benefits of full electrification are “significantly higher”.

Those benefits include improved air quality in towns; removing freight from the M62 and other major routes; improved reliability and journey times for passengers; and better connectivity between communities across the North.

They consider that investment to be “critical” to the economic future of Huddersfield and Dewsbury. The letter adds: “Many businesses and organisations in Huddersfield, and more widely, support the case for full electrification of Transpennine.

“They include Kirklees Council, Zero Carbon Yorkshire, Railfuture ( Yorkshire), Action on Yorkshire Transport as well as national transport and environmental organisations [ including] Campaign for Better Transport and Campaign for Rural England.”

It says the rail industry has clearly identified the benefits of the scheme.