In a move branded ‘inconsistent with the government’s devolution agenda’, Transport for the North will no longer be paid to develop East-West links

 

 
Ministers have removed funding and powers from Transport for the North after it dismissed the government’s Integrated Rail Plan for the North and the Midlands as “woefully inadequate”.

TfN was established in 2015 to advise the government on the North of England’s transport needs. However, on the day of the IRP announcement, a senior official from the Department for Transport is reported to have written to TfN’s chief executive, Martin Tugwell, saying that it would stop paying the statutory body to develop the Northern Powerhouse Rail project.

This change came after TfN had issued a statement that criticised the IRP. Louise Gittins, interim chair of TfN, said: “Leaders from across the North and from across the party political divide came together to ask for a network that would upgrade the North for this century and in line with the rest of the country. Our statutory advice asked for an over £40bn network but the government has decided to provide even less than half of that.”

Gittens continued: “If we truly want to level up the country we don’t need words and promises. We need commitment.”

It’s surprising and looks a tad vindictive. Government whether local or national needs to be able to express its views honestly

Responding to TfN’s loss of powers, former transport minister Norman Baker told Passenger Transport: “It’s surprising and looks a tad vindictive. Government whether local or national needs to be able to express its views honestly. This decision is inconsistent with the government’s devolution agenda and ultimately unhelpful. We need all sides to work together constructively for what in most cases are common goals.”

 
This article appears in the latest issue of Passenger Transport.

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