The rail upgrade programme to improve Transpennine connections from Greater Manchester to Leeds and York has announced its strategy to bring billions of pounds in economic, social and environmental benefits to the region.
The Transpennine Route Upgrade on the railway between Manchester, Leeds and York has announced how it aims to achieve environmental benefits, social value and employment opportunities along its 70-mile route, thanks to faster and more frequent electric trains.
The ‘Our Guiding Compass’ strategy sets out the sustainability and social value aims for the delivery of works, including mitigating the environmental impact of the works and in creating jobs and lasting social and economic benefits as work gets underway. The first electric trains are already running on the Manchester to Stalybridge section of the route, which re-opened last month after a 26-day closure of the line.
The Transpennine Route Upgrade is expected to create 4,000 new jobs during the construction of the improved line, and the ‘Our Guiding Compass’ strategy sets the target that 60% of the workforce will be employed from within 25 miles of the line, and 80% within 40 miles. 20% of those employed on the route are also expected to come from underrepresented groups and ensure the workforce is representative of the communities the rail improvements will serve.
The railway programme has also calculated the impact of its sustainable development activities to £4.28 billion in social value and an estimated £4.9 billion in wellbeing impact, in addition to the traditional programme economic impact assessments. Calculations have been made using the Rail Social Value Tool in line with Treasury Green Book Principles.
Rail Minister Huw Merriman said:
“Sustainability is at the heart of the Transpennine Route upgrade – delivering faster and more reliable electrified services in the North in a way that’s also better for our environment.”
“I welcome the launch of today’s strategy and am proud to see the transformational benefits of the upgrade coming to life by creating new jobs and opportunities while slashing carbon emissions across the region.”
Anna Humphries, Head of Sustainability and Social Value for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, said:
“The Transpennine Route Upgrade’s sustainability strategy is clear in our vision for the North of England. We’re delivering not just a railway that will be faster, cleaner and provide more seats, but we’re putting the sustainability and social value delivery of the programme at the heart of all we do.”
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a real impact on the lives of those who live in the North of England and ‘Our Guiding Compass’ puts in writing how we intend to do that.”
The full ‘Our Guiding Compass’ strategy can be accessed in full via the Transpennine Route Upgrade website here.
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