Memorandum by the North West Business
Leadership Team (REN 14)
RAIL SERVICES IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
1. This memorandum from the North West Business
Leadership Team ("NWBLT") is submitted in response to
the Transport Sub-Committee's enquiry into rail services in the
North of England. NWBLT is a consortium of senior executives from
major companies operating in the North West region, working together
to help enhance the economic competitiveness of the region and
the quality of life of all its citizens.
2. NWBLT's principal concern in relation
to the rail network in the region is to see early and positive
action in relation to the strategic transport priorities already
identified in response to the Government's 10 year Transport Plan.
Members of the Transport Sub-Committee will no doubt be aware
that a formal response to the Government's 10 year Transport Plan
was submitted over a year ago by the Northwest Development Agency
and the North West Regional Assembly, listing 10 strategic transport
priorities for the region. Since that date we have seen very little
evidence of progress towards these priorities, nor are we aware
of any formal acknowledgement of the region's response.
3. In respect of the rail services, NWBLT's
two principal concerns relate to the Manchester Hub Rail System
and the West Coast Main Line and related issues.
4. As was pointed out in the region's response
to the 10 year Transport Plan, in an increasingly globalised economy
ever more passenger and freight traffic will use the region's
international hubs — Manchester Airport, Liverpool Airport,
the strategic Mersey Ports and the Port of Heysham. All four hubs
are run as commercial operations. To maximise investment in the
hubs their owners need a positive development framework, especially
in national policy, regional planning guidance and development
plans. The hubs also need support infrastructure, some of which
should be publicly funded, and the remainder funded in partnership
or from private finance. Manchester Airport, a crucial determinant
of future economic development in the region, must be relieved
of regulatory constraints on international services and on borrowing.
Relaxing and removing these constraints will not involve public
spending. It could have a huge impact on investment in the North
of England, whilst relieving unsustainable development pressures
in the South. To support the Airport's committed growth there
must be major investment in the Manchester Rail Hub, including
the Manchester Airport Western Rail Link.
5. The North West region is heavily dependent
on the West Coast Main Line for North-South links, which are vital
for the region's connections with London and for transit to Europe
via the Channel Tunnel. Despite the welcome and substantial investment
underway in the West Coast route modernisation, conditions have
worsened and forecasts warn of continuing long-term difficulties
in relation to both passengers and freight. In our opinion it
is essential, in order to avoid extremely serious problems of
congestion in the years to come, for an additional freight link
from the North West to Europe via the Channel Tunnel. In this
regard NWBLT has made a submission earlier this year to the Minister
for Transport, John Spellar. We therefore attach considerable
importance to the work now being undertaken by the Strategic Rail
Authority with Central Railway plc and its consultants in relation
to the proposals for a lorries on trains freight railway service
linking Liverpool and Manchester to Northern France via the Channel
Tunnel.
6. NWBLT is extremely concerned that the
North West region, which represents approximately 11% of the nation's
total GDP, continues to be disadvantaged by very poor transport
links, in relation to both road and rail, and seeks an early and
clear indication from Government as to the action which will be
taken in relation to the above matters.
Geoffrey Piper, DL FCA
Chief Executive, The North West Business Leadership
Team
7 June 2002
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