Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Second Report - The Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands
Transport Committee
HC 292
Published 27 July 2022
Recommendations
5
Accepted
Para 25
To take account of the changes of plan for the HS2 Eastern leg and to...
Recommendation
To take account of the changes of plan for the HS2 Eastern leg and to inform current and future decision-making, the Department for Transport should publish by March 2023 an updated BCR for (a) the entire HS2 project and (b) …
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Government Response Summary
The government will develop and expand on the wider economic and levelling up benefits in future business cases, including proposals for HS2 East and the HS2 to Leeds Study, and will publish the NPR Strategic Outline Business Case later this year.
Department for Transport
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8
Accepted
Para 32
The Government must remain open to the possibility that this thorough reassessment of the evidence...
Recommendation
The Government must remain open to the possibility that this thorough reassessment of the evidence base, taking full account of the impact on levelling up communities in the North and Midlands, may show that Options 2 or 3 for Northern …
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Government Response Summary
The government will reassess the evidence for better connecting Bradford and the case for a new station as part of the NPR development program and the HS2 to Leeds Study and stands by the conclusions of the IRP on Bradford.
Department for Transport
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12
Accepted
The Government must conduct its study on how best to take HS2 to Leeds urgently.
Recommendation
The Government must conduct its study on how best to take HS2 to Leeds urgently. We ask that a timetable for this work, including a firm date for the final report, be published by September 2022. This is essential for …
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Government Response Summary
The government will publish the terms of reference for the HS2 to Leeds study before the summer recess, with the study anticipated to take around 18 months; however, the government states that the study does not guarantee further interventions.
Department for Transport
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15
Accepted
Para 63
The Government should reconsider the case for the development of a new station in Bradford.
Recommendation
The Government should reconsider the case for the development of a new station in Bradford. The development of the St James’s Market station would not only enhance rail connectivity in the North, allowing further investment in the city, but also …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the rationale for the recommendation and will address it on a project-by-project basis, with detailed mitigation already underway on TRU and HS2 through environmental controls and community engagement.
Department for Transport
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27
Accepted
Para 112
The Department for Transport and Network Rail should set out a timetable for implementing a...
Recommendation
The Department for Transport and Network Rail should set out a timetable for implementing a detailed mitigation strategy to minimise disruption caused by the implementation of the IRP. This should set out a strategy for each individual project and must …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the rationale for a detailed mitigation strategy to minimize disruption caused by the IRP, to be done on a project-by-project basis, with work already underway on TRU and HS2 including consultation with communities and stakeholders.
Department for Transport
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28
Accepted
The Government has put together a strong case for the Integrated Rail Plan, but it...
Recommendation
The Government has put together a strong case for the Integrated Rail Plan, but it is based on a best-case scenario which may not come to pass. Cost and time overruns for major infrastructure projects are commonplace, and disruption can …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to produce more cautious estimates for the benefits that are realistically achievable under the IRP, stating the IRP already contains information about cost and date ranges. They expect to provide further information on ranges and sensitivities for both costs and benefits where such information is available and can meaningfully be applied.
Department for Transport
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Conclusions (7)
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 4
We welcome the scale of the Government’s promised spending on improving rail in the North and the Midlands. £96 billion is a very substantial sum; it has the potential to transform rail travel for future generations and make a significant contribution to levelling up the country.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the rationale for this recommendation, though it will take longer than the suggested timeframe, and confirms it remains committed to looking at alternatives to the Golborne Link to deliver similar benefits to Scotland, and alternatives will be considered while maintaining safeguarding along the Golborne Link.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 24
The failure to calculate an updated benefit-cost ratio (BCR) raises questions over whether the case for changes to the HS2 Eastern leg have been properly assessed. It is concerning that the Government would make a decision on such an important infrastructure project before having done the BCR calculations to fully …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the rationale for this recommendation and will continue to provide updated economic assessments of HS2 at key decision points for the programme, and intends to provide a proportionate economic assessment, including BCRs, alongside other options considered in the HS2 to Leeds transport appraisals.
6
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 30
Without having completed a full analysis of the wider economic impacts, it is difficult to see how the Government has fully assessed the levelling-up agenda and the case for different NPR options. Leaving out these key elements of analysis means that the value for money and economic return cannot be …
Government Response Summary
The government will publish the terms of reference for the work on wider economic impacts before the summer recess and anticipates that the study will take around 18 months.
7
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 31
The Government’s levelling up agenda commits it to ending geographical inequality in the UK. However, by underserving the rail needs of the North of England it is letting down those who require change the most. Upgrading lines will undoubtedly bring modest benefits to rail services in the North and Midlands, …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation subject to the future conclusions of the HS2 to Leeds Study and will work with local partners to ensure Leeds station has capacity to meet the additional services outlined in the IRP by 2035, including platform extensions and improvements to station approaches.
11
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 46
We welcome the Government’s pledge to look at how the Eastern leg of HS2 might be constructed in full to Leeds as originally planned; the city is a key focal point not only of existing rail networks, but of economic value and potential in the North.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and expects to provide further information on ranges and sensitivities for both costs and benefits where such information is available and can meaningfully be applied through the next stage of development.
20
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 82
The Government’s presentation of the benefits of the IRP core pipeline in comparison to previous plans should factor in time and cost ranges that reflect the contingency that will, realistically, be needed for such a large and complex package of work.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and states that the IRP already contains information about cost and date ranges. They expect to provide further information on ranges and sensitivities for both costs and benefits where such information is available and can meaningfully be applied.
26
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 111
Rail upgrades disrupt commuters, rail freight and timetabling. Disruption to existing services caused by upgrades to key rail lines may drive a modal shift from rail to car, which would work against the Government’s decarbonisation goals.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the rationale and states that mitigation measures will be done on a project-by-project basis, with work already underway on TRU and HS2, managed through environmental controls and a Community Engagement Strategy.