Yorkshire businesses plea for government to back rail review

Businesses and industry groups from across Yorkshire have called on the government to commit to funding a £14bn plan for improved rail services in the region.

Former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett’s report, named Yorkshire’s Plan for Rail, was published in May and called for an end to “creaking Victorian-era railways”.

An open letter was published earlier from firms and figures which asked Chancellor Rachel Reeves to prioritise rail spending in Yorkshire as a “down-payment on improving economic growth”.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said reliable and affordable public transport links were “essential for supporting jobs and driving economic growth”.

Those who signed the letter include universities, technology businesses, manufacturers, arts groups and newly promoted Leeds United as well as regional chambers of commerce.

The group, under the name the White Rose Partnership, “united to show their support for improving transport connectivity in a region that has been under invested in for decades”, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce said.

South Yorkshire’s elected mayor, Oliver Coppard, said while the multibillion-pound investment called for was a “challenge”, it was also a necessary ambition.

“Being able to travel to, from and within Yorkshire is not an optional extra,” he said.

Lord Blunkett’s rail review was commissioned by Yorkshire’s three regional Labour mayors Tracy Brabin, Mr Coppard and David Skaith ahead of the government’s Spending Review later this month which will see budgets set and priorities outlined.

The review called for increased capacity at Leeds, Sheffield and York stations, as well as a new station for Bradford connected to the main trans-Pennine line.

A new mainline station for Rotherham along with electrification of the line between Sheffield and Leeds was also highlighted.

In North Yorkshire, additional trains to Scarborough and Whitby were cited as a priority with a similar ask for the Penistone Line in South Yorkshire and around Wakefield’s Five Towns in West Yorkshire.

The open letter said the plans were “not just about growing Yorkshire’s economy, but about enabling our region to play its full part in the UK’s”.

It outlined some of the plans in Lord Blunkett’s review and added: “We know improving rail infrastructure requires significant funding, but we strongly believe that by prioritising investment in Yorkshire’s rail network in the Spending Review will be a down-payment on improving economic growth and helping businesses and people to thrive.”

Tariq Shah OBE, co-chair of South Yorkshire Business Advisory Board and CEO of Vigo Group, said rail connectivity was “a vital step” in driving growth and improving access to jobs, education and innovation.

“This is not just a transport investment, it’s a statement of ambition for our place,” he added.

Caroline Routh, executive director of Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre, said there was only one train an hour between York and Scarborough.

“We have audience members leaving before the end of a show so they don’t miss their train,” she explained.

“That potential hour wait is not going to encourage anyone to visit, or to come back.”

Ms Routh added that 80% of the theatre’s audiences travelled by car because there was no viable alternative.

A spokesperson for the DfT said it was already investing in the North and delivering transformational projects across the region, such as the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade, plus “maintaining momentum on Northern Powerhouse Rail”.

It said it would continue to work with local leaders to improve rail connectivity.