Yorkshire HS2 trains ‘essential’, transport chief says

Burnham gives warning over services

BRINGING HS2 services to Leeds is “absolutely essential”, new Transport for the North chairman Patrick McLoughlin has told MPs.

The former Conservative Transport Secretary made his first public appearance in front of the Transport Select Committee on Wednesday morning since being appointed as TfN chairman last month.

The committee has launched an inquiry into the Government’s much-criticised Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands.

One aspect of the plan, announced in November, is that the HS2 Eastern leg line was being curtailed and would no longer run to Leeds but instead finish in the East Midlands.

HS2 trains will now run on existing track up to Sheffield while a study has been launched into how best to eventually connect HS2 services to Leeds.

Lord McLoughlin said the HS2 route has evolved over the years. “Originally the plan was to have a brand new station at Meadowhall and not go into Sheffield city centre. Sheffield Council and the local economies all made the case it should go into Sheffield city centre,” he said.

“That was an alteration which led to a benefit to Chesterfield also getting into that link. I’m very interested to see how the Government is now going to address making sure how we get those services to Leeds, which I think is absolutely essential given the size of Leeds.”

Lord McLoughlin said he was sympathetic to people living on the planned HS2 route who were concerned about its impact, but said he believed it would ultimately prove its worth.

“I’ve never yet found an infrastructure project which has been met with open arms until after it’s been built. And then afterwards they’ve usually say, ‘Actually, this was a good idea, why didn’t you do it sooner?’”

THE NORTH risks having train services that are “secondbest for 200 years” if the Government goes through with its controversial Integrated Rail Plan, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has claimed.

The plan was first published in November and included the HS2 Eastern leg to Leeds being curtailed so it will not reach Yorkshire, while hopes of a new high-speed line between Leeds and Manchester via Bradford were downgraded for a cheaper option between Warrington and Marsden on the edge of Yorkshire.

Speaking to MPs on the Transport Select Committee, Mr Burnham said: “These are once-in-200-years decisions for the country and particularly for the North of England.

“If we get second-best then the North of England will have second-best for 200 years or more.

“The importance of this can’t be overstated.”

Mr Burnham said a recently published technical annexe for the IRP had revealed that the levelling up impact of building the full routes had not been taken into account.

“This is a very traditional railway assessment of a scheme that has led to what we have,” he said.

“They have not by their own admission carried out a levelling up impact.”

Tory MP Karl McCartney subsequently accused Mr Burnham of having different approaches to the issue in public and private.

The Lincoln MP said: “Do you understand the meaning of the phrase ‘do not bite the hand that feeds you’?”

Mr Burnham said he did and Mr McCartney then asked: “Do you think that your strategy that might be slightly schizophrenic in private saying, ‘Please sir can I have some more’ like Oliver, then coming out in public and trying to beat the Government up like the Incredible Hulk’.

“Do you think that’s delivering for you and the people of Manchester?”

Mr Burnham said: “You are kind of saying ‘we should just get what we’re given’.

“How about ‘get what we were promised’? Because it’s actually your government that promised all of this.”