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 …

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

5 items
2 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Acknowledged

Nonetheless, there is still a need for prioritisation and hard choices, and the proposals set...

Nonetheless, there is still a need for prioritisation and hard choices, and the proposals set out in the Integrated Rail Plan have already left some towns and cities very disappointed. It is crucial that the Government bases its decisions on how to spend this investment on the fullest possible evidence …

Government response. The government accepts the rationale and will continue to provide updated economic assessments of HS2 at key decision points, and intends to provide a proportionate economic assessment, including BCRs, alongside other options considered in the HS2 to Leeds study.
Department for Transport
9 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Acknowledged

The potential of Bradford as an engine room of the Northern Powerhouse may be squandered...

The potential of Bradford as an engine room of the Northern Powerhouse may be squandered if it is not given opportunities to thrive through better connectivity. Direct high speed connections would give the city access to a much broader pool of labour, as well as allowing other cities to benefit …

Government response. The government acknowledges the recommendation and states it has continued to engage with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Manchester City Council (MCC) regarding an underground station but concludes that a surface station is the appropriate design solution.
Department for Transport
10 Recommendation Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Acknowledged

A full assessment of the levelling up impact of the various NPR and HS2 Eastern...

A full assessment of the levelling up impact of the various NPR and HS2 Eastern leg options does not appear to have been carried out to date. The Government must ensure that the impact of NPR decisions on Bradford in particular is robustly assessed, including producing BCR analyses for all …

Government response. The government notes the recommendation and explains that the IRP confirmed HS2 services between Birmingham and central Nottingham, via East Midlands Parkway which would provide greater connectivity between the East and West Midlands.
Department for Transport
16 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Acknowledged

Local stakeholders and the Government have very different views on the likely merit and cost...

Local stakeholders and the Government have very different views on the likely merit and cost of the underground station option at Manchester Piccadilly. There are considerable cost and practical challenges to delivering this solution, though we recognise the benefits of a through station and saving land for development. We have …

Government response. The government acknowledges different views on the Manchester Piccadilly underground station, citing costs, delays, and lack of evidence for land value justification, stating they have engaged extensively with stakeholders.
Department for Transport
17 Recommendation Second Report - The Integrated Rail Pla… Acknowledged

If the underground station option were to be deemed deliverable, it could unlock significant land...

If the underground station option were to be deemed deliverable, it could unlock significant land value in the city; it would then be reasonable to expect contributions to the cost from local government and local businesses. We recommend that this expectation should form part of a renewed, transparent conversation about …

Government response. The Government notes the recommendation and has continued to engage with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Manchester City Council (MCC), and has engaged extensively with Greater Manchester stakeholders. They conclude that further optimisation of the underground options is unlikely …
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 ↗

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 …