Select Committee · Transport Committee

Integrated Rail Plan

Status: Closed Opened: 15 Dec 2021 Closed: 13 Jul 2023 13 recommendations 15 conclusions 1 report

The Committee is interested in the implications of the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) for the economy and rail capacity and connectivity. We are particularly interested in receiving written evidence that addresses: The contribution that the IRP will make to rail capacity and connectivity for (a) passengers and (b) freight in (i) the Midlands and the … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - The Integrated Rail Plan for the North and … HC 292 27 Jul 2022 28 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

8 items
13 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Accepted in Part

The redevelopment of Leeds station is key to fully realising the benefits of the Integrated...

The redevelopment of Leeds station is key to fully realising the benefits of the Integrated Rail Plan on the economy and connectivity in Leeds and West Yorkshire, and more widely. Already over capacity in its current configuration, Leeds station will not be able to handle the increased services and passengers … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation and states that Network Rail and HS2 Ltd are developing the different aspects of the IRP, and they will provide objective and assured advice as to the likely seat and track capacity offered by the IRP.
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Department for Transport
14 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Accepted in Part

We ask the Government to commit to supporting redevelopment of Leeds station by 2035 so...

We ask the Government to commit to supporting redevelopment of Leeds station by 2035 so that it has sufficient capacity to accommodate services planned under the IRP, including HS2 trains arriving in Leeds.

Government response AI summary
The government is working to develop the Long-Term Strategy for Rail which will include a focus on opportunities for freight including delivering additional capacity and increased loading gauge clearance through the Transpennine Route Upgrade; and freeing up capacity on the WCML that could be used …
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Department for Transport
18 Recommendation Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Accepted in Part

Birmingham stands to benefit from the new HS2 station at Curzon Street, and the easing...

Birmingham stands to benefit from the new HS2 station at Curzon Street, and the easing of capacity constraints at New Street by services moving to Moor Street station. One last piece of the puzzle appears to be facilitating connections from Moor Street towards Leicester by providing the eastern chord. We … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government is considering the case for delivering the eastern section (including links to Leicester) of Midlands Rail Hub in the future, as part of the Outline Business Case for the South/West arm.
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Department for Transport
21 Recommendation Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Accepted in Part

Journey time reductions—albeit not to the same degree as promised by previous plans—are a headline...

Journey time reductions—albeit not to the same degree as promised by previous plans—are a headline benefit of the IRP. We received detailed evidence that cast doubt on the plausibility of the times achievable under the new plans. We ask the Government to publish its full technical appraisals of the feasibility … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government has already published work by Mott MacDonald into the Strategic Alternatives to High Speed 2 Phase 2b, which includes an independent assessment of outputs for different alternatives on the Eastern Leg. Future business cases will include comparisons with previous plans, and detailed analysis …
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Department for Transport
22 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Accepted in Part

The Government’s fixation on journey times as a benefit of the IRP must not overshadow...

The Government’s fixation on journey times as a benefit of the IRP must not overshadow the issue of capacity. It seems highly unlikely that an upgraded Victorian line can replicate the capacity increases achievable by building new track.

Government response AI summary
The government has published work by Mott MacDonald into the Strategic Alternatives to High Speed 2 Phase 2b, which includes an independent assessment of outputs for different alternatives on the Eastern Leg, showing that significant seat increases were possible. However, they do not fully accept …
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Department for Transport
23 Recommendation Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Accepted in Part

The Department for Transport should commission a full independent assessment of the seat and track...

The Department for Transport should commission a full independent assessment of the seat and track capacity offered by the IRP, compared to the previous plans for HS2 and other options for NPR. This assessment must take into account the future effects on both long-distance and local passenger services, and freight … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Government has already published work by Mott MacDonald into the Strategic Alternatives to High Speed 2 Phase 2b, which includes an independent assessment of outputs for different alternatives on the Eastern Leg, and Network Rail and HS2 Ltd will provide objective and assured advice …
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Department for Transport
24 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Accepted in Part

We welcome the Government’s Future of Freight Plan and the promised work to identify a...

We welcome the Government’s Future of Freight Plan and the promised work to identify a National Freight Network. We look forward to seeing more detail about how modal shift of freight to rail will be achieved through the IRP core pipeline in particular. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government is working on a Long-Term Strategy for Rail including opportunities for freight, recognizing the advantages of shifting freight from road to rail and will set a long-term rail freight growth target later this year; the government partially accepts the recommendation.
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Department for Transport
25 Recommendation Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Accepted in Part

The Department for Transport should publish a rail freight strategy for the country setting out...

The Department for Transport should publish a rail freight strategy for the country setting out key plans, targets and milestones over a 30-year period. This should include a detailed assessment of how the IRP will achieve greater capacity for and use of rail freight. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, stating that they are working with the Great British Railways Transition Team to develop the Long-Term Strategy for Rail which will include a focus on opportunities for freight and set a long-term rail freight growth target later this year.
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Department for Transport

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
23 Mar 2022 Andrew Stephenson MP · Department for Transport, Nick Bisson · Department for Transport, Sir John Armitt CBE · National Infrastructure Commission, Sir Peter Hendy CBE · Network Rail View ↗
9 Mar 2022 Andy Street CBE · West Midlands Combined Authority, Gareth Dennis · University of Birmingham, Karen Heppenstall · Midlands Connect, Professor Iain Docherty · Institute for Advanced Studies, Professor Jon Shaw · European Platform for Transport Sciences View ↗
2 Feb 2022 Andy Burnham · Greater Manchester, Martin Tugwell · Transport for the North, Rt Hon. the Lord McLoughlin CH · Transport for the North View ↗

Who gave evidence

12 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Andrew Stephenson MP · Minister of State Department for Transport 1
Andy Burnham · Mayor Greater Manchester 1
Andy Street CBE · Mayor West Midlands Combined Authority 1
Gareth Dennis · Lecturer in Railways Studies University of Birmingham 1
Karen Heppenstall · Head of Rail Midlands Connect 1
Martin Tugwell · Chief Executive Transport for the North 1
Nick Bisson · Director, Northern Powerhouse Rail and Network Pl… Department for Transport 1
Professor Iain Docherty · Dean Institute for Advanced Studies 1
Professor Jon Shaw · Deputy Chair European Platform for Transport Sciences 1
Rt Hon. the Lord McLoughlin CH · Chair Transport for the North 1
Sir John Armitt CBE · Chair National Infrastructure Commission 1
Sir Peter Hendy CBE · Chair Network Rail 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
11 Jan 2023 Correspondence from the Minister for Rail, Department for Transport, relating t…
26 Oct 2022 Correspondence from the Minister of State for Rail, Department for Transport re…
12 Oct 2022 Correspondence from the Minister of State for Rail, Department for Transport, r…
12 Oct 2022 Correspondence from Chair, Transport Committee to the Minister of State for Rai…
9 Feb 2022 Correspondence from Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, relating to the …