Issue - meetings

To consider a draft proposition for the future of rail in the North.

Lead: David Hoggarth

7.1          Members received the report from the Strategic Rail Director who highlighted the points in the report.

7.2          Regarding recommendation 4 in the report (“Stress the importance of the Government maintaining progress with major projects already in the pipeline”) Mayor Driscoll requested that the East Coast Mainline be included given a number of critical projects.  He also requested that in relation to recommendation 5 (“Stress the importance of the Government progressing at pace with bringing forward the plans for a new station in Bradford and publication of the Terms of Reference on the Leeds Sheffield study”) that the Leamside Line is included as an additional project given its strategic importance. 

Mayor Driscoll then highlighted the letter that the Mayors of the North had received following their recent meeting with the Secretary of State.  Whilst the letter stated his (the Secretary of State’s) interest in pursuing a rail academy for the North, it made no mention or recognition of the strength of the recovery in patronage in the North and the adverse effects that service cuts would have if operators are asked to absorb the inflationary costs i.e. real term cuts in operating budget).  Mayor Driscoll stressed that there will not be a future for rail in the North without investment in critical infrastructure and services. 

He then informed Board that for many there is no viable alternative to heavy rail and highlighted the need for guards to remain on the trains in order for them to be safe for all to access.

7.3          Mayor Brabin was supportive of the recommendations in the report though she thought they could have gone further following the meeting with the Minister and subsequent letter. She highlighted TPE as being particularly problematic with the new December timetable leading to even more cancellations.  She informed Board that the Mayors of the North had asked the Secretary of State to put TPE on notice; however, in the reply from the Secretary of State this issue was not addressed so she requested TfN’s support on this matter.  She explained that this is necessary as there is no plan for recovery and requested some identifiable markers of improvement.  She also raised concerns around the “P-coding” and in particular whether this is included within the data.    

On the issues of the new TPE timetable she stated that it is not reflective of the needs of the communities Members serve and raised concerns about overcrowding and potential health and safety issues with the number of people on a train.  She requested that TfN raise these concerns with the Secretary of State.

In response the Chair confirmed that he and the Chief Executive had recently met with the Secretary of State and is hopeful that following this meeting a Minister will be in attendance at the next Board meeting. 

7.4          Mayor Burnham suggested turning the most prominent suggestions within the report into a five-point plan suggesting practical things that can be done on the railway in 2023 in order to try and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7