Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, said:
“After the release of the long-awaited Integrated Transport Plan, it is an understatement to say we are extremely disappointed to learn of the Government’s decision to pull the plug on plans to electrify the lines in and out of Hull.
“For some time now, the council has worked with its partners at Transport for the North and Network Rail, alongside the Department for Transport and neighbouring local authorities, to develop proposals to electrify the lines from Hull to Leeds and Hull to Sheffield as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail.
“With significant support from Hull and East Yorkshire’s business community, we believe we made clear the urgent need for this electrification and the benefits it would bring to Hull. This would have been the cheapest and quickest of all the upgrades.
“Electrification of these lines is a vital requirement for Hull and for the Northern Powerhouse Rail network. The city’s poor connectivity relative to other major cities and ports needs to be improved if we are to grow the local economy. Electrification is key to improving that connectivity.
“Despite promises to “Level Up” the country, the Government has demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding of our regional economy and wider connectivity issues of the city.
“When considered alongside the climate change agenda, and at a time when Hull is doing all it can to support sustainable travel and reduce carbon emissions as part of our Hull 2030 Carbon Neutral Strategy, this decision shows complete lack of foresight from the Government, and undermines any statements about net zero.”
