The board of Transport for the North – the Government’s statutory advisor on the North’s transport priorities – met yesterdayand the message from the meeting was that the region has huge economic potential but poor connectivity is holding the area back.

The present level of service from Avanti West Coast was also in the Board’s firing line.

Political and business leaders from the North of England met in Manchester to consider the Government’s Network North announcement and to discuss the progress of the revised Strategic Transport Plan (STP), which is due to be published in the spring.  There was also an update from the recent meeting of the Rail North Committee (RNC) from Andy Burnham, chair of the committee and Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Following the RNC update, it was agreed that the Board should write to the Transport Secretary seeking statutory advice on two points.  Both points relate to services provided by Avanti West Coast. It was noted that the level of cancellations by the company is too high and the current levels of service levels of service are both inadequate and unacceptable. There was also a proposal that Avanti first class carriages should be declassified with immediate effect to accommodate the expected high demand during the festive periods, with first class being restored in the New Year.

The STP sets out the ambitions of the North to close the productivity gap, decarbonise surface transport and improve opportunities for all.  Transformational investment is required in the transport system, particularly in the region’s railways and strategic roads.

The TfN Board stressed that the North needs Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) in full, along with investment to deliver the levels of increased connectivity and capacity that would have been provided by HS2.

TfN welcomed the funding commitments set out in Network North as steps towards realising its long-term strategic ambition set out in the STP. These will including an extension of devolved funding through the City Regional Sustainable Transport Scheme and the provision of multi-year funding settlements for Local Transport Authorities.  Support for reduced fares on local bus services should be extended and BSIPs (Bus Service Improvement Plans) should be encouraged and supported. There were also commitments to building a new rail station to serve Bradford and electrification of the railway to Hull. All this will require pan-regional investment in the North’s transport system to support levelling up.

Lord McLoughlin Chair of Transport for the North, said: “At Transport for the North our aim is to make transport easier, faster, and more accessible for all. Our evidence clearly demonstrates that we need transformational change, with investment in our roads, railways, and wider transport system, to improve connectivity for the North and make a difference for both residents and businesses.

“We must invest to deliver economic growth that is sustainable and inclusive for the longer term. And if we are going to achieve the ambitions in the Strategic Transport Plan, we need to champion change in the way we plan, develop, and then deliver transport investment. That means doing things differently. Transport for the North has a role to advise Government where there are opportunities to work more efficiently and effectively. By focusing on the outcomes, we need for people and places, working with metro mayors and local authorities and securing the investment needed, we can transform the North.”

Referring specifically to the Avanti West Coast issue, Lord McLoughlin added:  “There was a strong recommendation by leaders from across the North that the current level of service by Avanti is inadequate and therefore we have proposed a solution for the Christmas period to remove First-Class carriages to ensure that the travelling public are put first.”

Mayor Andy Burnham, Chair of the Rail North Committee, said: “Next week is a huge week for the rail network in the North, as many families are relying on the network to see family and friends over the festive period. But the current levels of service we have witnessed in recent days is threatening to ruin the holiday period for many. Increased cancellations by Avanti leading to overcrowded trains just cannot be justified.

“The travelling public must always come first. They are entitled to a reliable service and therefore we are of the view that there should be no first-class carriages over Christmas and until the New Year when Avanti can clearly demonstrate that their services have improved.”