MP urges cross-party working on rail future after accusing Peer of ‘political point-scoring’
RAIL ROW: Politicians have clashed over investment in the city’s railways. Pictured, a diesel train leaving Paragon Station. Picture: Paul Harrop
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Hull’s most senior MP has called for cross-party working on future funding for the city’s railway after criticism of the impact of a £1bn investment in new battery-electric trains.
The Department for Transport last month announced funding for a new fleet of 29 battery-electric trains to be run by TransPennine Express, which will provide emission-free travel on non-electrified sections of the railway, and operate between key destinations including Manchester Piccadilly and Hull.
The plan was called “an insult” by Liberal Democrat Peer Lord McCobb today after he received a written answer from Labour Rail Minister Lord Hendy revealing the new trains would only cut journey times between Hull and Leeds by “up to a minute”.
In response, Dame Diana Johnson, Hull’s longest-serving MP, said cross-party working was “more important for the Humber than political point-scoring”.
The Labour MP for Hull North and Cottingham said: “After the recent £1bn TransPennine Express announcement of new state-of-the-art electric trains for the 2030s, the key task for us now is to keep encouraging the sort of infrastructure investment for the North that Londoners have taken for granted for decades.
“Getting that vital increase in rail network capacity across Northern England will mean that we can then work with industry stakeholders to improve connectivity in the frequency of train services from Hull to destinations such as Manchester Airport and Liverpool.
“On 16 November, it will be ten years since Hull was left out in the cold when Lord McCobb’s Tory former Coalition partners blocked our £100m privately-financed Hull rail electrification scheme. In contrast, we can now build upon our Government’s recent £45bn Northern Powerhouse Rail announcement.
“With Reform threatening to axe it, working cross-party on driving this forward is more important for the Humber than political point-scoring.”
Lord McCobb is demanding the Government honours its commitment to electrify and improve the line speed between Hull, Leeds and Sheffield, as stated in the Hull and East Yorkshire devolution deal. The deal says this would cut the journey between Leeds and Hull by ten minutes.
He said: “This isn't a party political point – it’s a fairness point.
“Both the last Government and the current one promised to electrify and upgrade Hull’s railway links. But Hull has been left out – again.
“I think the Government, regardless of party, should keep that promise to Hull and East Yorkshire.
“And I will happily work with anyone, regardless of party, who is willing to work alongside me to make sure that promise is kept.”
The new TransPennine Express trains, due to enter service in 2034, will provide improved accessibility including step-free boarding and the elimination of gaps between the train and platform, making journeys easier for wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and those with luggage.
Each train will also include three dedicated wheelchair spaces, two accessible toilets, family-friendly areas and cycle and buggy storage.