Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

A confused politician called Keir,
suddenly felt very queer.
he'd campaigned (it is true)
against HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s))
yet now it's a marv'lous idea?!?!

[Rhydgaled]

The arrival point for trains from Bristol and Cardiff will change from New St to Moor St.

Will it? I thought the plan was for trains from Hereford/Malvern/Worcester, and possibly Stansted/Leicester, to switch from New Street to Moor Street, since these (as far as I know) terminate in Birmingham. The trains from Cardiff and Bristol continue to Nottingham/Manchester/Edinburgh and diverting to Moor Street would appear to render the trains unable to continue to Manchester (as far as I know the only one that requires a reversal at New Street currently) and would require a reversal (and associated time penalty) for the others.

[Red Squirrel]

The arrival point for trains from Bristol and Cardiff will change from New St to Moor St.

Will it? I thought the plan was for trains from Hereford/Malvern/Worcester, and possibly Stansted/Leicester, to switch from New Street to Moor Street, since these (as far as I know) terminate in Birmingham. The trains from Cardiff and Bristol continue to Nottingham/Manchester/Edinburgh and diverting to Moor Street would appear to render the trains unable to continue to Manchester (as far as I know the only one that requires a reversal at New Street currently) and would require a reversal (and associated time penalty) for the others.

Interesting question. How many of these through journeys will be better-served in future by changing to HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) at Birmingham?

[Bmblbzzz]

There currently are no through trains from Bristol to Manchester.

[Timmer]

There currently are no through trains from Bristol to Manchester.

With very little excuse for not running these services now.

[Lee]

From Passenger Transport:

Ministers strip TfN of responsibility for NPR

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.”

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.”

[rogerw]

Sour grapes?

[Noggin]

The arrival point for trains from Bristol and Cardiff will change from New St to Moor St.

Will it? I thought the plan was for trains from Hereford/Malvern/Worcester, and possibly Stansted/Leicester, to switch from New Street to Moor Street, since these (as far as I know) terminate in Birmingham. The trains from Cardiff and Bristol continue to Nottingham/Manchester/Edinburgh and diverting to Moor Street would appear to render the trains unable to continue to Manchester (as far as I know the only one that requires a reversal at New Street currently) and would require a reversal (and associated time penalty) for the others.

Not quite - AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) the trains to Moor Street would be a new service in addition to Cross Country, possibly run by TfWM, thought that wasn't 100% clear, I can't remember the route, though I seem to recall that they would most likely run alternate hours to Cardiff or Bristol rather than splitting/joining en-route.