Agenda item

Recommendations:

a)    That Transport Committee note the update on development of the Rail Strategy and in particular the Capacity Chapter.

b)    That Transport Committee endorse the consultation and signoff process outlined in paragraph 2.12 of the submitted report.

The Transport Committee received an update on work currently in progress on the Combined Authority’s Rail Strategy, and approval was sought for the proposed approach to endorsement of the Rail Strategy.

The report examined capacity on trains and the wider rail network and explored what capacity may be needed in the future. Two upcoming workshops with Transport Committee Members were also highlighted, one discussing a number of areas noted in the report, including capacity and freight, and the other reviewing the draft Rail Strategy before it was submitted for approval at the March meeting of the Committee.

The importance of making full use of freight capacity was highlighted, particularly in light of the earlier-discussed issues with HGVs. Electrification of the railways was also an important goal in order to achieve the region’s carbon emission targets, but this would depend on the details of the upcoming Integrated Rail Plan (IRP). Electrification of the Calder Valley line in particular was highlighted as being an ongoing concern for over a decade, and Members noted that at one time the line had been reported as top of the list for development in the Decarbonisation Strategy for 2050 produced by Network Rail. It was suggested that the Committee challenge why this had not been delivered if sufficient funding was not awarded as part of the IRP.

Members praised that the report clearly set out the scale of needed investment, noting it sent a strong message to Government on the requirements for levelling up. Developments such as the Bradford Interchange Works were also supported, with journey times expected to be reduced by this. However, concerns were raised over accessibility, particularly as historically schemes with planned improvements in this area had often failed to materialise. It was noted that the Combined Authority applied for all applicable funding available, but a significant change in national funding strategy was required in order to achieve full accessibility across stations in England within a reasonable timeframe.

It was reported that the objection to the TransPennine Route Upgrade discussed at previous meetings had been resolved following an agreement with Network Rail being secured to safeguard issues regarding work on the tunnel underneath Huddersfield Bus Station. Concerns were raised over the possibility of simultaneous roadworks occurring at Cooper Bridge in Kirklees and the B6118 road closures which were expected as part of the TransPennine Route Upgrade, as well as additional work expected on the A62, as this could have significant effects on congestion and air quality. However, officers advised that throughout the process of resolving the above-mentioned disagreement, protocols had been put in place to deal with any disruption in a wider sense, and these contained mechanisms to address the concerns Members had raised.

It was noted that as part of the TransPennine Route Upgrade, it was expected that the second platform at Castleford Station would be returned to operation, in part as divergence for trains disrupted by the upgrade. Work was currently underway on planning to maximise the benefit of this.

Resolved:

a)    That the Transport Committee notes the update on development of the Rail Strategy and in particular the Capacity Chapter.

b)    That the Transport Committee endorses the consultation and signoff process outlined in paragraph 2.12 of the submitted report.