Hull MPs press Rail Minister over Northern Powerhouse Rail electrification plans

Emma Hardy (left) and Dame Diana Johnson pictured with Lord Hendy in Westminster.

THREE of Hull’s MPs have met with Rail Minister Lord Hendy following the Government’s recent Northern Powerhouse Rail announcement which failed to address any of the Humber’s rail issues.

Hull MPs Dame Diana Johnson, Emma Hardy and Karl Turner met with Lord Hendy who may soon visit the region to meet with stakeholders and rail experts.

A spokesman for Diana Johnson’s office said: “During the meeting the Hull MPs welcomed the recent confirmation from the Department of Transport that electrification of the rail lines to Hull remains under consideration and discussed the options now available to make progress on it.

“We noted that there is currently an opportunity to end the use of polluting and expensive-to-run diesel trains on trans-Pennine rail routes and boost capacity through a scheme of discontinuous electrification and new battery bi-modal trains. This would honour the Government’s commitment in the Hull and East Yorkshire Devolution Deal and boost the Humber economy.”

“Following today’s discussion, we are confident that the Rail Minister is on the side of the builders - not the blockers. There is a clear commitment to build on the Government’s recent Northern Powerhouse Rail announcement.

“Along with business and other stakeholders around the Humber, we will continue making our case for as long as it takes, including through a meeting in the near future with Government representatives in Hull.”

David Hooper, from the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are pleased to see some of our region’s MPs continuing to lobby for improvements in our rail services.

“The Chamber will be happy to facilitate a meeting with the Minister and regional stakeholders and continue to lobby for improvements on both sides of the Humber, including electrification and better journey times on the North bank, as well as the long-awaited direct service to London from Cleethorpes on the South bank which is such an easy win, yet still so frustratingly difficult to get signed off.”

The spokesman added: “Lord Hendy sounded like he wanted a new fleet of trains in the North to be bi-modal electric battery based. This means that stretches of line would be electrified in concert with fast charging points on all routes.

“This apparently is also far more saleable to the Treasury in cost terms, with battery bi-modals requiring less of a subsidy than diesel bi-modals and upfront costs are tiny compared to infrastructure works needed for overhead cable electrification which would need major works to a Victorian bridge at Selby, for example.

“It’s a more realisable scheme than 100% length of line now that battery technology has come on leaps and bounds.”