Why we need to get up to speed

Feb 27 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

PRESSURE was mounting on regional spending chiefs last night to hand out cash that could bring an ultra high speed link to the North.

A revolutionary maglev system, said to be as fast as the Japanese bullet train, has been proposed as the best way to link up cities from Edinburgh, though Newcastle and across the Pennines to Manchester and Liverpool.

And now Northumberland-based UK Ultraspeed could see the long-standing transport dream become a reality after securing public funds from the North West.

More than £220,000 will be spent on a business plan for a Liverpool to Manchester maglev route after regeneration bosses at The Merseyside Partnership decided it may be the way forward.

And a further £250,000 will go on setting out the business case for a Manchester to Leeds link.

Last night, there were calls for their counterparts in the North East to match the cash injection.

UK Ultraspeed chief executive Dr Alan James said the North East, potentially one of the biggest beneficiaries, needed to show the same level of investment or risk being left behind.

He has called on development agency One NorthEast to put the rail system at the heart of its transport ambitions.

While the ultimate aim is to stretch the line to London, the initial benefit would be to create a “Northern super-region” delivering a multi-million pound boost to economy.

Dr James said: “We want to turn the talk of a super-region into a reality, and make us as competitive economically as we have always aimed to be.

“Liverpool to Manchester and Leeds is a great first step. We now look forward to similar partnerships with the public sector in other parts of Northern England and Scotland, to combine all of the great cities between the Mersey, Tyne, Forth and Clyde into a ‘North Britain super-region’ to act as a genuine counterweight to London and the South East.”

Tyne Bridge MP David Clelland, who sits on the transport select committee, last night added his voice to those calling for more cash to support the scheme.

He said: “There has never been a proper costing of this. The Government balks at the idea of this and has so far refused to really look at it.

“But I believe maglev can be a way forward for us, especially with the suggestion of a Tyne-Tees link. It is important we start planning for this now.”

Businesses in the North have called on One NorthEast to show more support for transport projects and provide the cash for a “detailed evidence base”.

Ross Smith, head of policy at the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “There are a lot of different transport priorities that people and businesses in the region will want to see further.

“But what we need first is a robust evidence base with which to take the region forward.”

A spokesman for the development agency said: “One NorthEast has already funded through the Northern Way a study which examined the impact of high speed north-south and trans-Pennine rail connections, highlighting potential economic benefits.

“We will continue to pursue the potential for high speed connections through our support for the Northern Way.

“We are due to meet Dr James next week and will listen to his proposal.”

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Maglev in action

THE world's first ultra-high speed Transrapid system entered daily passenger service in Shanghai on January 1, 2004.

The 300mph train links the airport with the city’s financial district in just eight minutes.

But before the Chinese set their sights on the high speed route, the UK was already using a little known maglev link just for airport travellers.

Families jetting off for a holiday from Birmingham could use a maglev train connecting the airport to a nearby train station. The 600m track lasted for nearly 11 years but suffered reliability problems before its closure in 1995.

But now more systems are planned. Japan wants to open a maglev line in 2025 as it considers replacements for the famous bullet train.

Germany is investing £1.3bn in a maglev system between Munich’s airport and the city centre. A trial run in 2006 ended in disaster when the train crashed into a maintenance vehicle left on the line, killing 23 people.