Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, has written to the Secretary of State for Transport to seek an urgent meeting to discuss how rail electrification to the city can be included as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
Earlier this week, the Government announced that £1.1billion was to be made available for the design and preparation of the scheme and committed up to £45bn for its delivery.
However, there was nothing for Hull, a situation compounded further by other Mayoral areas in the north receiving significant funding for their local transport priorities as part of the Spending Review and a promise of rail electrification as part of the Hull and East Yorkshire Devolution Deal.
Following the Government announcement on Tuesday (13 January), the issue was raised at a Meeting of Hull City Council on Thursday (15 January), with a clear cross-party view that the Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme should have included rail electrification and that Councillor Ross write to the Secretary of State, Heidi Alexander MP, to identify a way forward for what would be the most cost-effective part of NPR.
In his letter, Councillor Ross expressed his ‘severe disappointment and frustration’ with the announcement and that a previous letter on the issue, sent in November last year, received no reply.
Councillor Ross also requested that an urgent meeting be organised with Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, along with representatives from the Department for Transport, the Treasury and the local business community, to discuss how, despite the omission, electrification of the Hull line can be included in the programme, as the Government committed to last year.
“Hull and East Yorkshire are vital parts of the north,” said Councillor Ross.
“The Humber is our country’s most important trading gateway to Europe, carrying over 20% of UK trade, but, inexplicably, successive Governments have continually failed to define the economic corridor of the north beyond that of Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.
“We sincerely hoped that the Government finally understood the economic significance of the east side of the Pennines, especially as we had agreement in our devolution deal that electrification be included as part of NPR.
“As it stands, the Government’s announcement has dashed our hopes and expectations for this much needed and overdue infrastructure investment.
“The importance of rail electrification cannot be overstated. It would be a huge step to improving connectivity to Hull and would enhance rail services, improve reliability and energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and lower emissions.
“Our city and region are simply not prepared to be ignored.
“Hull deserves to be treated on a par with other cities across the north of England and we will be making the case for this to the Government.”
A copy of the letter can be seen, below.
