- and call on MPs to convince the Treasury
Rail campaigners have the recent announcement by the Prime Minister of enhanced targets for greenhouse gas reductions, to be a 68% cut by 2030, but now call for action. Local groups say this is an ideal moment to start a programme of railway electrification. Network Rail’s traction decarbonisation network strategy (TDNS) published in September recommends the majority of at present diesel-only routes should be electrified. Local rail user groups supporting the Electric Railway Charter say that rail electrification will pay for itself through reduced costs for train operators as well as by ending rail carbon emissions, and call on MPs to press the Department for Transport and Treasury to give the go ahead.
Whilst hailing the new climate target, campaigners describe a “perfect storm” of issues, with progress frustrated:
- Revelation last week that the Treasury autumn statement cuts £1bn from Network Rail’s 5-year enhancements budget, threatening improvements badly needed by passengers and freight customers. Rail users’ groups share the disappointment expressed by the Rail Industry Association at this cut (Rail Industry Association disappointed by news that rail enhancements budget reduced by £1 billion | Rail Business Daily)
- Following Network Rail’s traction decarbonisation network strategy (TDNS), the urgent need for the Department for Transport to bring out its full decarbonisation strategy, and for the Treasury to agree to a rolling programme of rail electrification. Electrified railways have lower train operation costs compared with alternatives such as hydrogen power, diesels, or present “bi-modes” that still burn diesel. Electric trains are cheaper to buy, simpler and cheaper to maintain and more reliable, as well as cleaner and potentially zero-carbon. The call is for the Treasury to take a holistic approach with future cost savings paying for investment now. The rail industry has shown that a rolling programme, where skilled engineering teams are maintained as they move from project to project, could cut the costs of electrification by up to 50%. TDNS calls for only limited use of hydrogen trains mainly for more remote or less intensively used routes, or as an interim measure towards full electrification.
- A tenth anniversary – continuing wait for enhancement projects that were promised years ago. The TransPennine Route upgrade (Manchester-Huddersfield-Leeds-York) was allocated £589M last July. A letter from the DfT says this will enable “design and development work”. Full electrification (on the back burner since 2017) is still only being considered, and “the most optimal approach” will be determined “by mid-2021”. That will be the tenth anniversary of announcement of the original TRU scheme which envisaged full electrification.
- And a sixth anniversary. Next March it will be six years since the Northern Electrification Task Force published its report “Northern Sparks”. The task force was an all-party group chaired Andrew Jones MP (Harrogate) and recommended, just as a start, a five-year programme to electrify 12 initial routes. Top ranked on business, environmental and economic criteria was the Calder Valley Line, Leeds via Hebden Bridge to both Manchester and Preston.
Stephen Waring, Chair of Hadrag (The Halifax & District Rail Action Group) said:
“The new targets to cut greenhouse gases must be the cue to decarbonise transport as part of building back better after Covid. The most energy-efficient way of supplying energy to trains is by overhead wires. A rolling programme of electrification should pay for itself by cutting train operators’ costs. Electric trains are cheaper to buy and cheaper to run. Our route from Leeds to Manchester and Preston would follow naturally after the Huddersfield line. With lots of station stops, the high performance of electric traction will be a big boost.
“Network Rail’s decarbonisation strategy reinforces the conclusions of Northern Sparks five years ago: most lines need to be electrified. We want Transport for the North, regional and local authorities and our MPs to keep up pressure on the Department for Transport and the Treasury.
David Hagerty of Stalybridge to Huddersfield Rail Users’ Group said:
“It is vital that the Transpennine Route Upgrade is not cancelled, scaled back or further delayed as a result of this cut to Network Rail’s budget. The promises made in 2011 need to be belatedly kept, including full electrification from Manchester to Leeds & York and also including full disabled access at stations like Marsden and Greenfield. Passengers and communities along the route should not be expected to wait indefinitely for vital improvements which should have been approved and implemented long ago.
We would expect all MPs along the route to be united in demanding that this scheme is approved and built in full as soon as practicable.”
Nina Smith, of Hebden Bridge, Chair of Upper Calder Valley Renaissance Sustainable Transport Group said:
“The climate emergency requires emergency measures from government. Railway electrification is central to decarbonising transport, and the UK lags behind much of Europe.
“The Treasury must fund a rolling programme of electrification starting with the trans-Pennine core route through Huddersfield and the Midland Main Line to Sheffield and Leeds, followed by the Calder Valley lines.
“No ifs, no buts, just get on with it.”
Richard Lysons, Chair of Friends of Littleborough Station added:
The Calder Valley Line desperately needs a clean, modern, “sociable” railway that serves the whole community and promotes wellbeing. The line has many uses: commuting; tourism; school, college and university student travel; shoppers; walking groups, and much, much more.