25.07.17
Northern uproar as Grayling backs Crossrail 2 after ditching electrification
Transport secretary Chris Grayling has this week publicly put his backing behind Crossrail 2.
In a joint statement from Grayling and mayor of London Sadiq Khan, it was revealed that the pair agreed that the capital needed new infrastructure to ensure its growth as the UK’s economic powerhouse.
But mayors in the north have reacted angrily to the news, arguing that funding needed to be balanced throughout the country, especially following the recent news that three electrification projects would be cut by DfT.
“I am a supporter of Crossrail 2 but given its price tag we have to ensure that we get this right,” Grayling said. “The mayor and I have agreed to work together on it over the coming months to develop plans that are as strong as possible, so that the public gets an affordable scheme that is fair to the UK taxpayer.”
And Khan added: “Crossrail 2 is essential for the future prosperity of London and the south-east, so I’m pleased that the transport secretary and I have reached an agreement to take this vital project forward.
“We will continue to work together to ensure the project is value for money and provides the maximum benefits for jobs and growth in the region over the coming decades. I look forward to moving to the next stage of consultation.”
The project has been backed by the mayor and London councils in the past, as well as passenger watchdog London TravelWatch, which said that the success of the project was “vital” to future prosperity in the capital.
But in a poll of RTM readers in May, it was revealed that the majority of people felt that HS3 in the north should be prioritised over plans for Crossrail 2.
Burnham: East to west transport should be highest priority
This was a view that was, unsurprisingly, shared by mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham and mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram.
Reacting to news that Grayling had publicly announced his intention to push forward with Crossrail 2, Burnham told BBC Newsnight that the scheme was not in the Conservative manifesto, and should not have been “pushed to the front of the queue” ahead of key electrification works across the country.
“The government would be making a major mistake if it underestimated the fury that people here feel when they see those announcements last week and then they hear today that billions more is about to be spent on London,” he said.
“Many people in our country see west to east transport as the highest priority. But all of this was announced since Parliament closed.
“I would love to see Grayling announce in Parliament the scrapping of multiple electrification schemes alongside the green light for Crossrail 2. If he had done that there would have been uproar.”
The mayor of Manchester concluded that MPs now need to seek a vote when the House returns to see if MPs agree that this is the best way to proceed with rail investment in our country.
Rotheram also claimed that the announcement came as a “bit of a surprise” seeing as it had not been included in the party manifesto.
“I do not begrudge infrastructure investment in London and the south east, but what is needed is balanced investment in infrastructure to support growth in the north as well,” he continued. “Rebalancing the UK economy was recognised in both major party manifestos in the recent General Election but this cannot be achieved without the north receiving its fair slice of the transport cake.
“Sadly, the juxtaposition of last week’s cancellation of northern rail electrification schemes and this week’s green light for Crossrail 2 suggests it is just going to be business."
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