Agenda item

To consider the report of the Interim Head of Investment Planning; to receive an update on the development of the ‘Blueprint’ and provide an update on the outcome from the round of public consultation in November and December 2021 on the proposed December 2022 timetable and the next steps.

Lead: David Hoggarth

5.1             Members received the report from the Strategic Rail Director who highlighted the key points within the report.  Members also received an update from Mr. Richard Harper on the current situation with the Blueprint.

 

5.2             Mr. Harper explained that the Taskforce is working towards three objectives; the improvement and recovery of performance, ensuring that performance levels remain high and exploring opportunities to improve capacity and connectivity.   He highlighted the December 2022 timetable as fundamental to achieving these goals.

 

He further explained that the December timetable will look to balance the needs of recovery and performance against the needs of passengers. He recognised that difficult compromises have been made and stated that the timetable will form a solid basis and build on the good performance delivered during Covid.

 

On the issue of service changes, he explained that there are many options on the table and that difficult choices will need to be made.

 

5.3             Mayor Burnham stated that the Blueprint is a step forward and that having visibility into the 2040s is important.  However, he raised a number of concerns including the vagueness of the Blueprint with regard to timings and funding, downgraded timetables and lack of investment in infrastructure. He believed that this represents a managed decline of the railway post pandemic which will lead to a car-led recovery from the pandemic.

 

He highlighted the fact that the all the stations in Manchester are in need of modernisation.

 

The Chair agreed with Mayor Burnham, stating that the Blueprint is a step forward but is still not good enough. He highlighted the “bounce back” in the North for train travel and explained that services need to be expanded and the infrastructure that is required put in place.

 

In response the Strategic Rail Director stated that the message from the Committee was a strong one that will be taken back to the Taskforce.  He explained that the vision needs to come out clearly regarding Manchester’s railways and the plan for them.

 

5.4             Mr. Harper re-assured the Committee  that the Blueprint is not operating towards a managed decline scenario.  He explained that there is a range of propositions being considered across the network to take place over a number of years which are locked into a number of other major schemes.  He further explained that the Blueprint is helping to lay the foundations in readiness for NPR. 

He highlighted that the vagueness on ongoing projects is due to further work being required in order to turn the development work and propositions into a programme of work.  The industry is working with DfT on this.

 

5.5             The Chief Executive reminded the Committee that the Castlefield Corridor has been formally identified as a congested corridor; this, he explained, has regulatory implications and acts as driver for partners working together.  He outlined the importance of the Blueprint being a living document allowing the ambitions of the North to be used to shape work going forward and is keen for TfN not to lose these ambitions.

 

5.6             Mayor Burnham requested that the Blueprint should include a date as to when this designation on congested infrastructure should end as a result of the relevant infrastructure being in place.

 

5.7             The Chair supported this and requested that this be a standing item on the Committee’s agenda.

 

5.8             On behalf of Cllr Hinchcliffe the Chair asked for clarification on the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) publication process.

 

5.9             The Chief Executive was unable to provide a date as to when the RNEP will be published as it is a Government document, but confirmed that officers are working with partners to make the case for the various investments.

 

Resolved:

1)   That the Committee notes the Blueprint linking future service changes to infrastructure, showing how the December 2022 timetable change is a milestone in the process that also includes enhancements that will support reliability and connectivity improvements and that the Blueprint highlights that the Committee will have an ongoing role in the development and prioritisation of proposals;

2)   That the Committee notes the progress on working with the Department for Transport and industry colleagues on developing a pipeline of infrastructure improvements which will be reflected at each stage of development and delivery in the Blueprint;

3)   That the Committee notes the outcome of the second stage of the consultation process on the December 2022 timetable and the steps that the industry is taking to ensure it successfully implemented.