Yorkshire Mayors call for action on high-speed rail in the North

18 November 2022

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire and Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, have called for more clarity on the Government’s plans for high-speed rail in Yorkshire.  

Exactly one year on from the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands, the mayors met today (Friday 18 November) and criticised the lack of progress on bringing high-speed rail to Yorkshire. 

The Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) cut the extension of the high-speed HS2 line from the East Midlands to Yorkshire and replaced it with the promise of a £100 million study, including how to run faster and more frequent trains between Sheffield and Leeds. A year later, leaders are yet to see any terms of reference for the study, let alone a plan.  

And yesterday (Thursday 17 November), the Chancellor rowed back on the Government’s promise to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) in full. Original plans, which have the support of all Northern leaders, would have provided better access to jobs and education through a new, electrified line between Leeds and Sheffield. The new line would have cut journey times between both cities by half. 

Current and former Prime Ministers and Chancellors have committed to building NPR in full, but since Transport for the North’s preferred route was first announced in 2014 it has been cancelled, re-announced and altered by Government over 60 times. 

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: 

“One year ago today, the Government shafted us with a substandard rail plan that did not meet the ambitions for a stronger, fairer and better-connected North. Since then, we've seen next to no progress. Instead, we've witnessed countless U-turns, more instability and further chaos.   
 
“Northern commuters shouldn’t have to pay the price for the government’s costly mistakes on the economy. The people we represent should have the same level of transport investment and funding the South has benefitted from for decades. 
 
“But it’s not too late to turn the tide. And we hope that the new Transport Secretary will finally commit to this much-needed infrastructure, rather than condemning Yorkshire to the slow lane for generations to come.”