Apparently Transport for the North is a “talking shop”, even though it’s the Department for Transport which refuses to let TfN be part of the decision making process for essential schemes such as the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TRU was announced in 2011 and re-announced in 2012. Since then, nothing. The DfT have failed to make, let alone implement, a decision as to the scope of TRU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In December 2018, SMART asked the then Secretary of State, in a meeting, whether TRU would deliver the basics of step-free access and a half-hourly stopping service for Slaithwaite, Marsden, Greenfield and Mossley. The Secretary of State said he did not know, but in the following 19 months neither he nor his department bothered to find out and to provide an answer to this simple question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Article from the Yorkshire Post, 19th July 2020, follows]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Government has insisted rapid investment in the North\u2019s railways is key to rebuilding after coronavirus amid reports a multi-billion announcement is due to be made by the transport secretary this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reports\ntoday have suggested transport secretary Grant Shapps is poised to announce a\n\u00a36bn investment into northern railways this week, and the creation of a new\nNorthern Transport Acceleration Council to drive through the trans-Pennine\nupgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nSunday Times reported the new body was expected to deliver Boris Johnson\u2019s\n\u201cProject Speed\u201d promise to hasten the delivery of infrastructure upgrades, with\na government minister due to sit on the council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nnewspaper reported ministers believe the current body, Transport for the North\n(TfN), is a \u201ctalking shop\u201d which has done little to bring forward rail\nupgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But\nexperts pointed out that TfN does not have the funding, or powers, to deliver\nthe upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reports\nalso pointed towards plans for a Department for Transport hub in the North,\nadding to previous reports of other government departments looking to move some\ncivil servants to areas such as York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nPrime Minister\u2019s official spokesman confirmed this week that the prospect of a\ngovernment hub in the North was being explored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A DfT spokesperson said today: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been clear that, as we rebuild from Covid-19, we must invest in revitalising towns and cities across the North, to ensure we kickstart our economic recovery, deliver rapid improvements to journeys for passengers, and accelerate the delivery of key projects.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are working closely with Northern leaders to determine how to ensure that vital investment is delivered swiftly and effectively. We will announce further details in due course.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.yorkshirepost.co.uk\/news\/politics\/grant-shapps-create-new-body-accelerate-northern-transport-upgrades-2917898<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Apparently Transport for the North is a “talking shop”, even though it’s the Department for Transport which refuses to let TfN be part of the decision making process for essential schemes such as the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU). TRU was … Continue reading