EAST YORKSHIRE – Plans for a major rail upgrade across the north of England have hit yet another setback, with the government pushing back an announcement on the Northern Powerhouse Rail project.
The scheme, first outlined more than a decade ago, was meant to be the backbone of better east–west connections, reducing journey times between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Hull and beyond. Yet despite being promised under successive governments, there has been no firm commitment to when construction will begin.
The project was expected to be unveiled at several key moments this year, including the June Spending Review and the government’s infrastructure strategy. Most recently it was pencilled in as a centrepiece of Labour’s party conference in Liverpool, but was dropped from the Prime Minister’s speech. Ministers now say more time is needed to avoid repeating the costly mistakes of HS2, which was heavily cut back after delays and spiralling budgets.
For communities in East Yorkshire, the drawn-out process is becoming hard to justify. Faster journeys across the Pennines would open up business and tourism opportunities for Beverley, Hull and the wider Humber, yet there is still no clear start date.
Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart has previously underlined the importance of transport investment for the area. He warned:
“If anywhere needs government investment in transport, it’s Beverley and Holderness… If this £168 million is taken away from us we’ll be left with scraps from a government party which has always prioritised big cities.”
Hull North MP Diana Johnson has also criticised the long wait, arguing that the region is repeatedly overlooked. She said:
“Hull continues to be ignored by the Tory government despite all the rhetoric over the past decade about the Northern Powerhouse and ‘levelling up’ … rail infrastructure investment has continued to be skewed in favour of major projects like Crossrail in London and the South East. Hull has been bottom of the priority list.”
Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy has taken aim at the quality of existing services, which she says highlight why new investment is so badly needed. She said:
“I’ve had so many complaints from constituents about the unreliability of the service, how poor the train service is, getting cancelled all the time … And actually, it’s not just the trains, it’s the buses as well.”
The government maintains it is committed to Northern Powerhouse Rail but insists more time is needed to ensure value for money. For many in the north, however, patience is wearing thin. Until ministers set out a clear plan, Hull, Beverley and the wider East Riding remain stuck with some of the slowest journeys in the country, and promises of a better deal that never quite arrive.