Promises over electrification of two key rail Pennine routes need to be kept says leader

The issue was raised at the February meeting of the full Calderdale Council following Leader of the Council, Coun Tim Swift’s report on West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) discussions on transport.

Coun Mike Barnes said the Government had reneged on its promise to level up Transport in the North with extra funding.

Given that a recent report had shown regional links provided the best benefits, and also a never-delivered promise of northern electrification of rail, what was WYCA and the council doing about it? said Coun Barnes (Lab, Skircoat).

Coun Swift said the Government in the past had supported both Transport for the North and the Northern Powerhouse but had recently changed its approach without spelling out an alternative.

There was uncertainty about which schemes would go ahead.

It had been argued strongly that electrification of the Transpennine route should be quickly followed by that of the Calder Valley line, but there was doubt if funds were there to electrify the first line.

Proposals were quite limited rather than developing a new route to link Bradford and Manchester which were part of the original Northern Powerhouse proposals, said Coun Swift.

Additionally, given that the recent report from the National Infrastructure Commission questioned the future of the eastern leg of HS2, most other projects had been linked into that.

“If HS2 didn’t go ahead, that would have substantial implications for existing plans.

“These are very uncertain times.

“West Yorkshire leaders have written in the last couple of weeks to the Transport secretary voicing some of these concerns and to request a meeting. We have had no response yet,” said

Coun Swift, who added all the northern authorities were lobbying over the issue.

Coun Steven Leigh said he agreed with Coun Swift although he took issue with the question of funding – some money was available and it was a case of making sure these projects got it before any others.

Both Transpennine and Calder Valley routes needed progressing to electrification, which would give transport resilience across the Pennines for rail as the M60 motorway had done for vehicles, giving rail two ways round.

Coun Leigh (Con, Ryburn) said both needed doing to bring compatibility.

Otherwise you would not have the option of using the Calder Valley as an alternative rail route in an area prone to being affected by the weather, said Coun Leigh.

Coun Swift (Lab, Town) said the issue went well beyond the control of WYCA but it was something West Yorkshire leaders wanted to influence.