29.09.17
Digital rail and new lines ‘must not be mutually exclusive’ in TransPennine route
The TransPennine route cannot solely rely on existing infrastructure and digital signalling to accommodate growing demand, but rather must be served by new capabilities, such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, in order to thrive, it has been argued.
Late last week, transport secretary Chris Grayling announced that he would earmark £5m from the £450m Digital Railway funding pot launched in last year’s Autumn Statement exclusively to upgrade the TransPennine corridor.
The money will mean passengers travelling between Manchester and York could be the first in the country to enjoy a digitally controlled intercity route, despite programmes in London already having pioneered the concept of digital railway itself.
Although welcome, his announcement closely trailed suggestions that a comprehensive electrification programme across the region could be scaled back or scrapped, a measure Transport for Greater Manchester has promised to fight against.
And now, Peter Loosley, policy director at the Railway Industry Association, who wrote for the latest edition of RTM about Grayling’s CP6 announcements, has argued that digital signalling by itself will not suffice.
“We support the digitalisation of the rail system as a means of improving capacity through increasing the frequency of trains. By using digital technologies like in-cab signalling and traffic management systems, we can provide a higher number of and more reliable train services,” he explained. “This is integral to the sector’s strategy of utilising our existing rail infrastructure as best we can and this development funding is very welcome.
“However, demand for rail services continues to rise on the TransPennine corridor and we cannot just rely on the current infrastructure we have in place, even with a digital upgrade. We also need to add new capabilities, such as Northern Powerhouse Rail – integrated with HS2 – to connect different regions across the UK.”
These two options should not be seen as mutually exclusive, Loosley added; instead, the government and Transport for the North should perceive them as “two crucial elements in developing a modern, reliable rail system.”
“The rail supply chain looks forward to working with both to develop these plans further,” he concluded.
According to local press, Grayling is expected to defend his decision to scale back electrification in the north at the upcoming Conservative Party conference, which starts next week. He will allegedly argue that electrification should only be committed to where it clearly benefits passengers.
But the government appears to still be committed to developing Northern Powerhouse Rail, although timescales for its implementation are unclear. Many, including rail minister Paul Maynard and former chancellor George Osborne, have argued that HS2’s full potential will not be realised unless east-west rail links are properly strengthened as well.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has already urged the transport secretary to “show the colour of his money” at the Tory Party conference next week, much like he did with Crossrail 2.
(Top image c. NurPhoto, SIPA USA, PA Images)