Peer review: Pete Brunskill
MRTPI Principal Rail Development
Officer, Transport for Warrington
These are exciting times for railways in the north of England, and the Stepping Stones report is a timely contribution to the wider debate about improving connectivity to facilitate greater economic growth and to counterbalance an overheating London.
The Rail North area covers a resident population of 15 million, contributes 26% to national income, and importantly accounts for 60% of UK manufacturing GDP.
The ITTs for Northern and TransPennine were published on February 27, and represent a ‘transformational specification’ in stark contrast to the previous franchise award in 2004. Rail North has worked jointly with Government to develop this transformational specification, with a senior team of Rail North staff working closely with civil service colleagues over the last year, fully integrated with the DfT Franchise Project teams.
A Ministerial Direction was sought by the Permanent Secretary to the DfT and granted for the Northern franchise ITT, in light of the strategic case for the replacement of Pacer railbuses. This is the first time that a Ministerial Direction has been required for a rail franchising competition and reflects the national political requirement to let growth-led franchises to help deliver ‘Northern Powerhouse’ aspirations.
Stakeholders will look at the current Northern Rail network - elderly rolling stock, crowding on many routes, a confusing fares structure - and wonder how we will make the transition to the brave new world of newer (often electric) trains, greater capacity and resilience, dramatically improved passenger facilities and seamless ticketing that Transport for the North is setting out in the Northern Transport Strategy.
There is a clear narrative here, starting from the Rail North Long Term Rail Strategy, via the ITTs (and joint franchise management), and including the recent report of the North of England Electrification Task Force and work by Network Rail, to physically deliver the Northern Hub and various electrification projects leading to game-changing investment in the TransNorth Railway.
Rail North formally brings together the 29 LTAs across the region in a new partnership, to work together to plan and improve rail services for a very large and diverse part of the national economy. While this has at times been challenging, given political and geographic differences, there has been a general acceptance that working together we are stronger and better able to make the case for investment in the North.
The headline news from the ITTs is undoubtedly around rolling stock… the Pacers will be history!
While this announcement has been enthusiastically received by passengers, local politicians and the media, the equally significant point is that the next Northern operator must procure a minimum of 120 brand new additional vehicles capable of operating on non-electrified lines, and that TPE must also look to increase capacity (and later in that franchise, to secure new electric units). All retained Northern rolling stock (diesel and electric) must be fully refurbished to ‘as new’ standard. A peak hour’s capacity uplift of 30% is required across both franchises.
There will be higher frequencies on many services; later and earlier trains will run on much of the network; and as well as more Sunday services, bidders are instructed to consider running trains on Boxing Day - a long overdue requirement.
On Northern, a minimum Station Investment Fund of around £30 million is stipulated (bidders are encouraged to add to this). This will help to incentivise third party funding and links well with the greater role set out for Community Rail Partnerships. People must be at the heart of the North’s railways going forward.
Smart ticketing requirements are clearly set out in the ITTs, to cover participation in existing multi-modal ticketing schemes and in delivering a programme of ‘Smart in the North’ initiatives linked to the Transport for the North agenda to ensure comprehensive Smart coverage across the region.
This is all being taken forward in a genuine partnership with the DfT. A formal Partnership Agreement signed this month means that a joint Rail North/DfT team based in Leeds will be responsible for managing and developing the two new franchises from April 2016. Rail services in the North being run from the North - devolution in action.
The journey starts here.
