Agenda item

6.1             Members received the report from the Strategic Rail Director who highlighted the key areas of the report.

 

6.2          Mayor Jarvis stated that the current position is sub-optimal due to under investment in the rail network in the North of England.  He re-enforced the need to have a sustained period of investment from Central Government as the IRP does not correct the current issues.

 

He highlighted the need for the re-instatement of the Sheffield to Manchester airport service as well as seeking assurances around a third fast train on Hope Valley Line.

In response to Mayor Jarvis the Strategic Rail Director stated that the task force has both of Mayor Jarvis’s points in mind when developing the blueprint for future services and infrastructure.

6.3          Mayor Burnham expressed his concerns that service levels are falling below acceptable levels.  He stated that he was unwilling to accept a reduced timetable without an exit route and believes that the North is being encouraged to accept an inferior substitute on the issue of infrastructure.

In relation to platforms 15 and 16 at Manchester Piccadilly he stated that these platforms will make a difference as part of the solution with other infrastructure work in order to deal with the bottle necks in Central Manchester.

Mayor Burnham stated that he would not endorse the new timetable without a parallel timetable for the delivery of infrastructure and stated that he will be formally object to the new timetable unless a firm plan is in place for infrastructure improvements which will give an end date to the temporary timetable.

He also called for declassification of trains where there are first class carriages and capacity shortfalls.

In response the Strategic Rail Director stated that the blueprint will be the vehicle for showing that clarity and requested that this is brought back; in conjunction with this he will take the Committee’s strong messages to the DfT.

6.4          The Chair stated that the declassification of services is practical and requested that the potential of this be investigated further.

 

6.5          Cllr Hinchcliffe requested an indication about how future service priorities will be organised in future timetables and that the wider North of England be considered.

 

6.6          Cllr Scott requested a blueprint for the East Coast Mainline.

Resolved:

1)   That the Committee notes the progress made on the development of the December 2022 timetable and the next steps including the further round of public consultation in November 2021 and December 2021.

 

2)   That the Committee notes the progress on working with the Department for Transport and industry colleagues on developing the infrastructure solution which will be reflected in the blueprint’ identifying a co-ordinated long-term service and infrastructure solution for the corridor to restore and improve connectivity.

 

3)   That the Committee notes the positive progress on infrastructure, including industry agreement on the required configuration of Oxford Road station, modelling work on the additional performance benefits from delivering Platforms 15/16 at Piccadilly at the same time as the infrastructure changes at Oxford Road and confirmation from the Department for Transport of a £26m allocation to fund further development work on infrastructure.