The Government has announced it will be expanding the rail network in the North of England with better connections between Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. Sheffield Green Councillors are asking for it to be properly funded to ensure it actually happens.
£1.1 Billion has been committed to the Northern Powerhouse Rail so far. This is for initial design and development work. The entire project costs are capped at £45 Billion.
Councillor Alexi Dimond, Deputy Chair of the Council’s Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Committee said,
“With only £1.1 Billion so far committed and no work due to commence till at least 2029 this is a long way from providing the confidence and certainty we need. We would like to be hopeful, but it could be yet another false dawn for Northern Powerhouse Rail.
“The projected budget for NPR has been capped by the government at £45 Billion. This fails to take into account the spiralling capital costs experienced by major infrastructure projects in the South of England.
“Costs for the Elizabeth Line in London went over £4 Billion above the estimated budget. That was met from Government funds . Placing a cap on Northern Powerhouse Rail is clearly a case of one rule for the South and another rule for the North. This is unfair and inequitable.
“The Green Group is always in favour of more investment in public transport but it has to be properly resourced by national Government with budgets that provide the security needed to deliver better rail services – any additional costs cannot be met by local authorities that have already borne the brunt of years of austerity”
