Electric dreams realised for North Yorkshire rail
The electrification of the Church Fenton to York railway line has been completed, part of the £11bn government-funded Transpennine Route Upgrade.
The long-awaited electrification programme will allow for faster trains, potentially cutting journey times between York and Leeds by 10 minutes and Manchester and Leeds from 50 to 42 minutes, with up to six fast services an hour.
Along with electrification, TRU includes a new signalling system, bridge upgrades and station improvements.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander became one of the first people to enjoy the new electrified line, travelling from Leeds to York.
She said: “Today is a moment of celebration for a project that will transform train travel for millions of passengers across the North. More reliable, efficient trains are now running on 25% of the full Transpennine route.
“We are delivering on our Plan for Change by upgrading rail links across the North – slashing journey times between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.
“Electrification between Church Fenton and York was delivered on time and on budget, this government is investing in ambitious projects and seeing them through, delivering change in areas that desperately need it.
“This upgrade is about opportunity, not just by expanding and improving people’s travel options, but by creating more than 5,000 new jobs and supporting 6,500 new homes, kickstarting economic growth in the areas that need it most.”
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Upgrades completed this month will enable electric TransPennine Express trains to run from Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge and Church Fenton to York – electrifying both ends of the route.
The hope is that improved services will dovetail with development around key rail hubs. Station redvelopments at York Central and Ravensthorpe could provide ooportunity for 2,500 homes to be built, alongside 1m sq ft of commercial space and 18 acres of parkland in York, and 4,000 homes at Ravensthorpe.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “For too long, public transport in York and North Yorkshire hasn’t worked well enough. That’s why the completion of the electrified line between Church Fenton and York is such a vital milestone, with a quarter of the route upgrade now complete.
“The Government’s commitment to connecting people to opportunities through faster, greener, and more reliable rail journeys is incredibly welcome. This crucial part of the £11bn Transpennine Route Upgrade unlocks opportunities for jobs and regeneration across the region. It’s the kind of investment we need to build the transport system the North deserves.”
