Government ditches former PM’s NPR pledge

New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has binned his predecessor Liz Truss’ pledge to build the full Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme from Liverpool to Hull via a new station in Bradford (RAIL 968).

The PM’s official spokesman confirmed on November 5 that Sunak would revert to the slimmed-down version of NPR announced by Boris Johnson in last November’s Integrated Rail Plan (RAIL 945).

Business Secretary Grant Shapps (who was Secretary of State for Transport in Johnson’s cabinet) subsequently told the BBC: “The [existing trans-Pennine] line itself can deliver a 33-minute journey from Manchester-Leeds, quadruple the capacity of that line, and do so without having to wait an extra 20 years beyond the delivery of what the upgrade can do.

“There wasn’t really much point in going and blasting new tunnels through the Pennines.”

Northern and opposition leaders called the decision “disappointing” and said it would undermine economic growth in the region.

Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh accused ministers of leaving northern England with “second-rate infrastructure” and promised that an incoming Labour government would deliver NPR in full.

Transport for the North Chairman Lord McLoughlin said: “The last Conservative manifesto was clear on its commitment to build NPR. And furthermore, the Transport Select Committee recommended in August that the Government should revisit the evidence base for the decisions that were made on NPR.

“TfN members are clear that building NPR in full via Bradford is the best option to provide the solution to capacity constraints on our rail network and underpin the long-term sustainable economic growth for our region.”

RIA North Chairman Justin Moss added: “NPR would be nothing short of transformational. These reports are also very disappointing for our members as they prolong uncertainty, stifle investment, and undermine economic growth.”