15.09.17
London businesses endorse calls for ‘Crossrail for the North’
London business leaders have this week firmly put their support behind ‘Crossrail for the North’ and said the government should seriously explore the project.
A statement from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) admitted that travelling in the north was a “tortuous, time-consuming experience” and that improved travel in the region needed to be seen as a top future priority by the government.
The LCCI added that it still wanted Crossrail 2 to be progressed, but stated that this did not necessarily mean an improved East-West rail link in the north should not also be delivered.
It comes after a summer of intense debate between government and northern transport leaders. Think tank IPPR North started a petition to press the government for Crossrail North to rebalance the ‘scandal’ of rail underfunding.
The mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram also reacted angrily when transport secretary Chris Grayling publicly gave his support to Crossrail 2 after cutting plans for three important electrification projects in England.
“London is heading towards megacity status with 10 million people by 2030, and while we seek the right infrastructure here, it is important that the rest of the country continues to grow as well,” said Sean McKee, policy director of LCCI.
“At present, cross-country travelling between the great northern cities of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield is a tortuous, time consuming experience. That is not good for business or Britain.”
McKee also argued that these northern cities had a collective population of 9 million – similar to London’s population, and that these people deserved decent, modern transport as much as people living in the capital.
“It is interesting to note that the distance between Leeds and Liverpool is roughly the same as the whole length of London Underground’s Central Line – yet that northern journey can sometimes nearly take double the time,” he added.
“LCCI is happy to endorse previous calls for a ‘Crossrail of the North’. The proposed cross-Pennine plans involve tunnelling – and the skills and experience from the new Elizabeth Line/Crossrail project in London could be put to good use to deliver practical connectivity.”
The LCCI director made it clear that the organisation still wanted Crossrail 2, but stated that with the UK going into a post-Brexit future, the economy will be much stronger if opportunities for jobs and future growth were created beyond the capital.
“London’s ‘Crossrail 2’ and a ‘Crossrail North’ could be given the green light to proceed together – helping create the environment to compete and seize new economic opportunities,” he concluded.
The countdown is on to get your entries in for this year’s UKRIA. Closing date is 25 September. ENTER NOW!