Questions to be asked over East Coast Main Line
Jul 3 2009 by William Green, The Journal
MP blasts the North-South divide in funding transport investment
FEARS are growing that the North will not get its fair share as ministers may protect South East transport schemes from spending cuts.
The warning from MPs came as it emerged that regional train operator Northern Rail will only get half the 182 new carriages promised by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Tyne Bridge MP David Clelland blasted the "imbalance" in resources between the North and South, with transport infrastructure crucial to regional development.
"That is true of every region, but it is even truer of the North East. Our inter-regional and intra-regional transport corridors leave much to be desired," said the Labour MP.
Mr Clelland, a member of the Commons transport committee, also stressed during a Parliamentary debate that a new high speed line must come to the North East.
He added reintroducing passenger services on the Ashington, Blyth and Tyne and Leamside lines would provide a major boost while costing a "tiny fraction" of Crossrail.
Sheffield MP Angela Smith questioned whether the North would get its "fair share" given expected public spending difficulties and commitments already made to £16bn Crossrail, £5.5bn Thameslink and £897m Olympic transport projects.
"The key worry for those of us who represent the North is that our investment will be squeezed to protect those budgets.
"We are worried because early indications of DFT thinking are not encouraging," said the Labour MP.
She said the DFT pledged new rolling stock to each train operator in January 2008, with Northern Rail promised 182 new carriages.
"It is clear that the offer from DFT is now, at best, for little more than half the 182 carriages previously offered," said Ms Smith.
Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith said: "On Northern Rail’s investment in rolling stock, it is important that we eventually get rid of the old Pacer-type trains, which are still used on some services.
"Northern Rail has significant investment needs."
Junior Transport Minister Chris Mole said railways in the North were a "success story" and reeled off statistics, including £8.9bn spent on the West Coast Main Line.
He added the Newcastle-London journey was one of the fastest in the country, while five fast trains an hour between Newcastle and York gave the area "excellent" transport links.
And TransPennine Express had introduced new trains, Northern Rail increased its fleet by 30 units and CrossCountry upped its carriages.
Mr Mole added longer trains and platforms would be built to tackle crowding, but insisted the rail network was a national system with spending in one region often benefiting another.
