Reaction to HLOS 2012

7/31/2019 Reaction to HLOS 2012

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Shadow Welsh Minister for Transport ........................................................................... 10

BBC Political Editor ....................................................................................................... 10

City of York Council...................................................................................................... 10


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Industry

RMT

All of the rail projects on this shopping list have been talked about for years and with the

surge in passenger demand we cannot afford further delays like the ongoing Thameslink

fleet replacement fiasco. We have the chance to create thousands of rail jobs if the

politicians wake up and get these projects moving. However, RMT will fight any cynical

attempt to finance investment at some date way off in the future by sacking guards and

smashing up ticket offices as recommended in the Governments McNulty Command

Paper. The truth that the Government choose to ignore is that all of these investments

could be funded overnight without costing taxpayers or passengers a penny if they called

a halt to the multi-billion pound rip off of rail privatisation.

ATOC

This announcement is good for the economy and the environment. It signals the

coalition governments ongoing commitment to rail and enables the industry to build on

recent improvements to provide yet better services. Extending electrification, completing

the Northern Hub and tackling overcrowding into London will help more people to get to

work faster and more reliably, making our towns and cities more attractive to businesses

and spreading the benefits of economic activity across the country. The planned

investment will be paid for jointly by taxpayers and passengers. Train operators and

Network Rail are committed to work with government to improve the efficiency of our

industry, making every pound of investment go further and reducing the pressure on

future fares levels.

Network Rail

Today the government has issued a strong vote of confidence in the railway, and in our

ability to deliver sustainable economic growth through development of, and investment

in, the network. It is also a vote of confidence in the success of rail over the last decade,

with over one million more trains per year with half a billion more passengers, at record

levels of safety, punctuality and satisfaction. We do not underestimate the task laid down

for us, but we will work alongside industry partners in the Rail Delivery Group to respond

with a suitable plan. There are some tough targets, made even more challenging with the

need to deliver record numbers of services on essentially Victorian infrastructure. That is

why the pledge to invest billions of pounds in projects to improve, update and transform

our railway is not only welcome but essential. Alongside this we will continue to deliver

the highest possible levels of safety and performance across the network, while reducing

costs for the remainder of this control period and the next.

Rail Delivery Group

The extensive investment programme is a massive boost for rail but with it comes an

expectation that the rail industry will improve its efficiency and value for money. The Rail


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Delivery Group is focused on driving that improvement, particularly where those

efficiencies can only be realised by the industry working together. Achieving fundamental

improvements in efficiency whilst delivering the major investment programme outlined in

the High Level Output Specification is a significant task for the industry. The Rail Delivery

Group and its agenda will be structured to ensure that the industry can meet the

investment and efficiency challenge laid down by the Governments.

ORR

The Governments plan for the railways between 2014 and 2019 sets out a massive

programme of investment towards achieving a world class rail service, underlining the

importance of rail in economic growth and connectivity across England and Wales. We

now need to ensure that the plan is affordable, and to work with the rail industry to set

out in detail how it can be delivered. Fundamental in our role will be ensuring that all

those involved in delivering the plan work together to make every penny count and

achieve the best possible value for money for passengers and taxpayers.

East Midlands Trains

We welcome the news that the government has today given the go-ahead to fund both

the electrification and the upgrading of the Midland Main Line. This is a significant

announcement which benefits our passengers and the communities we serve.

Electrification will provide a smoother, quieter and quicker ride for passengers, cutting

journey times while crucially delivering more capacity to cater for future growth. Not only

will it be good for the environment, the project will create hundreds of jobs during the

construction period, providing an estimated 450m of wider economic benefits to thecities and towns we serve. Todays announcement is a particular credit to the combined

efforts of MPs and councillors from all parties, East Midlands councils, South Yorkshire

PTE, local authorities and the LEPs throughout the East Midlands and South Yorkshire who

have all worked together with the rail industry to argue the need for this investment to

Government. Electrification will significantly reduce the costs of rolling stock, energy,

track access and maintenance. It is estimated that electrifying the line from Bedford to

Sheffield will save up to 60m every year in industry costs. That means within ten years

of completion, the electrification of the line will have paid for itself and will continue to

reduce the cost of rail to the taxpayer year on year.

Passenger Focus

Passengers will welcome the scale and ambition of this investment. Our research shows

that passengers main priorities for rail improvement include more trains arriving on time,

more and longer trains and more chance of getting a seat these announcements will

help meet these aspirations. Value for money remains a concern. Passengers will want to

see the Government avoid above-inflation fare increases. These investments must be

delivered in a cost-effective way. Also, the work to deliver the new trains, track and

equipment must be done in a way that minimise the effect on todays passengers.

Rail Industry Association


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businesses the DDRF will be looking to engage as soon as practicable with Network Rail

to see how we can support this massive investment programme. Todays announcement

is not only good news for the East Midlands but will also be welcomed by business and

passenger groups across the UK.

Freightliner

The inclusion of several named schemes with direct benefits to freight such as the

Peterborough North and Leicester Wigston Junction grade-separation schemes as well as

improvements at Ely North Junction are especially welcome, and will enable the

continued growth of the deep sea container market by rail. The provision of a further

200m funding for the Strategic Freight Network demonstrates the Governments

continuing long term commitment to rail freight; this will sustain rail freight growth,

reducing road congestion and carbon emissions. The support of major infrastructure

investment will enable UK businesses to benefit from a more efficient rail network and

demonstrates the Governments commitment to a growing economy. We also greatlywelcome The Secretary of State's strong message to the Office of Rail Regulation in her

Guidance to the Office of Rail Regulation. The statement supports facilitation of the

continuing development and growth of a competitive, efficient and dynamic private

sector rail freight industry. It is particularly encouraging she emphasises the importance

of a commercially predictable network-wide freight operations and a requirement to

minimise transaction costs.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers

The UKs railways are long overdue a revamp, and these improvements, as well as high-speed rail, should help boost UK business, skills and jobs. This will also help boost

passenger capacity on the UK train network, which is so vital to accommodating people

wanting to make the low-carbon choice of using the UK railway network. There needs to

be further clarity on who is going to meet the costs for these investments however to

make sure people arent put off rail travel due to prohibitively expensive fares. The

country also needs more than just piecemeal, headline-grabbing initiatives. Government

must make sure that its approach to railways, forms part of a long-term integrated vision

for the countrys entire transport network, and indeed part of a joined-up industrial

strategy.

CBI

This announcement demonstrates a welcome commitment from the government to

provide much-needed additional capacity and electrification for our heavily-used rail

network. Schemes like the Northern Hub and new Electric Spine will bring our cities

closer together and provide a spur to businesses up and down the country. Building on

today, I look forward to seeing further ambitious investment decisions for the road

network.

Campaign for Better Transport


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The investment announced today is good news for the railways, especially the

electrification projects which will cut carbon and reduce running costs. However, we are

disappointed that the Government has confirmed RPI+3% fare rises for the next two

years. Pricing people off the railways will mean many passengers simply won't be able to

afford the benefits this investment will bring. At a time when public subsidy of the

railways is falling and efficiency savings in the industry are already reducing costs, thereis simply no need to make passengers pay over the odds.

British Chambers of Commerce

Investment in our rail infrastructure is important to British business. So these

announcements are welcome, if in many cases long overdue. Yet we should be under no

illusions. The announcement of a widely-expected programme of rail investment, starting

in two years time, is not enough. Britain needs a radical and properly funded

infrastructure strategy that delivers both short-term jobs and long-term competitiveness.

That means clarity on high-speed rail, our road network, aviation, energy supply anddigital connectivity and it should be achievable without adding to the structural deficit.

Metro (WY PTE)

"This is good news for West Yorkshire's rail passengers, as the High Level Output

Statement includes many schemes that Metro has been pushing the DfT to support,

including more capacity at peak times. By fully funding the complete Northern Hub

scheme, and by extending electrification to include the routes to York and Selby, we will

see more trains every hour between Leeds and Manchester on a fully electrified trans-

Pennine route, which will allow the existing diesel trains to be used to increase capacityon services elsewhere. Completion of the Northern Hub, together with the proposed

electrification of the Midland Main Line will provide a building block towards

improvements identified by Metro and its counterparts in South Yorkshire in the Yorkshire

Rail Network Study, such as capacity enhancements on the Caldervale and Harrogate

routes. The study identifies 12bn of economic benefits for the region by providing better

connections on a modern, electric railway between the major northern economic centres

of Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Doncaster and York.

Transport for Greater Manchester

Taken together, these investments will change the face of rail services in the North of

England in a manner that has not been seen for several generations. The Northern Hub

and electrification programmes will be a catalyst to help drive economic growth across

the north, so today's announcement is fantastic news and testament to the hard work

done behind the scenes by all our partners to make our voice heard by the Government.

The projects covered will provide access to larger markets, enable businesses to recruit

from a wider pool of talent, enable employees to commute more quickly, and lead to

greater transport flexibility and improved business efficiency. The programmes will also

unlock further use of rail to carry goods sustainably and cost-effectively around the

country - a single freight train can take 50 containers off our congested roads. They willalso significantly improve rail services through Victoria, Piccadilly and Oxford Road


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stations. Stations will also see improvements in passenger facilities, including in

particular a new roof and much-improved concourse for Victoria. This really is a fantastic

day. It means we can now capitalise on the significant growth in patronage that we've

seen on our rail services over the past decade, and passengers can now look to the future

with real confidence that major improvements are on the way.


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Political

Justine Greening

Investment on this scale, in every region of the country, shows how this coalition

government is focused on delivering an affordable, reliable and faster railway network

that drives jobs and growth. These plans to increase capacity and shorten journey times

on intercity, commuter and freight services are, alongside our plans for high speed rail,

absolutely key to securing our countrys prosperity in the decades ahead.

Maria Eagle

Government promises of rail investment after 2014 do not justify inflation-busting fare

rises now. None of the rail schemes being pledged this week will see a penny of money

spent on them until at least 2014 with many of the improvements not benefitting

passengers until the next decade. Passengers facing another two years of fare rises of up

to 11 per cent will be unimpressed by Ministers trying to suggest that there is any link

between fare rises now and promises of investment beyond the next election. The only

reason for these eye-watering annual fare rises is to plug the gap caused by the Tory-led

Government's decision to cut rail funding too far and too fast, by at least three quarters

of a billion pounds since the election, which has seen Labour's planned investment cut or

delayed. There is also a real fear, as even the National Audit Office has warned, that rail

fares will not even bring in any additional revenue to the Department for Transport, but

simply lead to greater profits for private train companies. The Government should finally

agree to implement Labour's proposed fair deal on fares, which would ban train

companies from increasing regulated fares by more than one per cent above inflation

across all routes each year.

David Cameron

From Crossrail, high speed rail and now the billions of pounds of investment we are

announcing today, this government is committed to taking the long term decisions to

deliver growth and jobs. In what is the biggest modernisation of our railways since the

Victorian era this investment will mean faster journeys, more seats, better access to

stations, greater freight links and a truly world class rail network.

Nick Clegg

This is the biggest expansion in railways in over 150 years, with more than 9bn of

investment across the country. Whilst we inherited a deficit greater than any in our

nations peacetime history, we knew that we had to give the country the boost it needs,

to build great railways and make journeys better for the millions of hard working people

who use the train every day. The Electric Spine will make a significant difference for

passengers linking London, the Midlands and Yorkshire in a much more efficient rail line,

connecting the South and North more effectively than ever before. As someone who

cares deeply about the environment, the opportunity to dramatically expand rail, a


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greener form of transport than aviation or road is very exciting indeed. This investment

will help people to choose trains over cars, reduce carbon emissions and provide a rail

system that is faster, more reliable and greener.

George Osborne

I am pleased that the Northern Hub will be funded in full as part of the Governments

plans, which is a significant boost for the major towns and cities of the North, helping to

rebalance the UK economy and enabling growth and regeneration throughout the

regions. This Government is making more funds available to invest in rail projects than at

any time since the Victorian era, and shows that the Government is committed to

delivering on its promises to support investment in public infrastructure that will support

economic growth.

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Assembly

Todays announcement is hugely welcome and will prove incredibly beneficial to the

Welsh economy. Welsh Conservatives have long called for this positive announcement

and the UK Governments decision is undoubtedly the right one. This is exactly what our

rail network needs. Electrification to Swansea and across the Valleys lines will provide a

priceless boost to both the region and Wales as a whole. Todays announcement is in

stark contrast to the previous Labour governments inability to electrify a single

centimetre of track in Wales. This is Conservatives positively regenerating Wales, unlike

Labours managed decline.

Shadow Welsh Minister for Transport

This was the right decision and confirms the UK Governments commitment to economic

growth in Wales. An integrated and effective transport system is a crucial cog in the

wheel of a successful Welsh economy. Todays announcement is an invaluable step

towards achieving that. We must now focus on achieving investment for north Wales and

the Welsh Governments inability to improve transport links in this region.

BBC Political Editor

Today's joint Cameron and Clegg visit and announcement of extra funding for railinvestment is designed to show that their agreed destination remains cutting the deficit.

They are determined to get back on track after the row about House of Lords reform de-

railed co-operation between their two parties. The risk is, though, that the coalition

spends long periods stuck in the sidings going nowhere rather than risk another

disagreement or the consequences of de-coupling.

City of York Council

Todays 9billion railway announcement is a huge boost for York. As the rail gateway tothe North of England and the third fastest growing city in the north an investment of

this scale will provide millions of commuters with better links, faster journeys and moretrain capacity on the East Coast Main line between London, York and Newcastle. The


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electrification across the TransPennine line (Manchester-Leeds, extended to York) willalso mean significant improvements on the route between York and Manchester[expected to be completed by 2018]. Im committed to working with leaders in theregions on improving and upgrading our connecting railway links and Im also looking intodiscussions with Scottish authorities on the High Speed 2 (HS2) services which willprovide connectivity from Yorkshire to Scotland.

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Reaction to HLOS 2012