Private finance ‘could help deliver rail electrification’ as MPs in talks with Govt and stakeholders

BACK ON TRACK?: Hull’s Paragon Station

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Private funding could help deliver the long-awaited electrification of rail lines in and out of Hull, as a city MP says investors are “keen to put tens of billions” into boosting the region’s economy.

There was frustration and dismay among across the political spectrum this month when Hull was not included in the revived Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project.

The Labour Government announced that £1.1bn was to be made available for the design and preparation of the scheme and committed up to £45bn for its delivery. But despite earmarking the infrastructure investment for towns and cities across the North it excluded the electrification of the line between Hull and Selby, seen as vital for the region’s economy and the subject of more than a decade of campaigning on the issue.

This was also against a backdrop of a commitment to electrifying and improving the line speed between Hull and Leeds and Hull and Sheffield in the recent Hull and East Yorkshire devolution deal.

But there was hope the project could still be delivered after a Department for Transport (DfT) statement to The Yorkshire Post, which said: “This week’s announcement does not exclude other rail projects through other funding sources and the electrification of the lines to Hull remains under consideration.”

Dame Diana Johnson, Hull North and Cottingham Labour MP, said in response: “Hull MPs are in ongoing conversations within Government and with key stakeholders around the Humber about how we can build on last week’s Northern Powerhouse Rail announcement, honour the commitment to Hull rail electrification in our devolution deal and eliminate polluting diesel from passenger trains serving Hull.

“The technology involved in electrifying these rail lines has moved on over the past decade and is now less costly than when the then Tory Government blocked the previous privately financed attempt at Hull rail electrification in 2016.

“At the same time, we know that private investors are keen to put tens of billions into boosting the Humber economy. Now is the time to move forward.”

Hull Trains’ owner First Group had previously proposed funding a £90m electrification upgrade but the proposal was rejected by the then Government when Chris Grayling was Transport Secretary.

After the DfT’s announcement on NPR, Hull’s three Labour MPs issued a joint statement saying they “still believe that there is a strong economic case for upgrading the rail link from the Humber ports”.

Luke Campbell, the Reform UK Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, called the plans a “let down”, and said: “The Humber is an important economic hub, home to vital energy projects and growing businesses. Our ports handle 17 per cent of the nation’s trade and are worth billions to the local and national economy, but they’re being held back.”

Councillor Mike Ross, the Liberal Democrat leader of Hull City Council, wrote to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander seeking an urgent meeting to discuss how rail electrification to Hull can be included as part of NPR.

His letter said: “The importance of rail electrification cannot be overstated. It would be a huge step to improving connectivity to Hull and would enhance rail services, improve reliability and energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and lower emissions.

“Our city and region are simply not prepared to be ignored.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted Hull would benefit from NPR after it was announced as “the journey as a whole will be better”.