Rail Minister addresses Transport for the North Conference

Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the government’s investment plans in infrastructure in the region at the annual Transport for the North (TfN) Conference.

The sold-out event took place at Hilton Liverpool City Centre on Monday February 5th, and brought together the North’s political and business leaders, as well as industry representatives to discuss the opportunities that could be unlocked by investment in the transport system across the whole region.

Long-term transformation for the North of England dominated conversations at this year’s?conference under the theme ‘Transform the North’ with the future of the Network North initiative, which sees funds redeployed from the cancellation of HS2’s Northern leg into smaller-scale road, bus and rail schemes across the country, a hot topic.

Addressing the conference, Huw Merriman drew attention to a number of schemes being brought forward, including to commuter rail routes in the region, including the Stockport to Sheffield Hope Valley Line, where electrification and a capacity upgrade is currently underway (pictured). He also confirmed plans to progress with a £12 billion improvement to the rail route between Liverpool and Manchester, which is speculated to take in some of the proposed HS2 route between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly. Plans to expand coverage of Northern Powerhouse Rail, an East-to-West rail corridor across the region to include Sheffield, Hull, and Bradford, with the latter to receive £2 billion in funding for a new station for mainline services.

The Rail Minister also highlighted the transport investment being brought forward by devolved powers for the North’s city-region mayors, noting recent awards of City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements and a Memorandum of Understanding being agreed with Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, which would see the city follow in Greater Manchester’s footsteps and bring more of its public transport system back under local control.

Huw Merriman concluded his address to the Transport for the North Conference by reiterating the importance of local decision-makers in guiding government investment; he said:

“I understand that government doesn’t always know best. That it is Mayors, TfN, and local leaders who are best placed to make decisions that affect people’s lives.

“That you know what your communities need, that you know what it takes to get it right. And with increasing government’s funding, you have the power and resources to act. 

“So, thank you for always engaging with me, thank you for the time you spend delivering for your communities.

“We gain so much by working together, and I hope really hope, and I’m sure we can keep up that partnership.”