Greening the Transpennine Route Upgrade
The programme to improve services between Greater Manchester and Yorkshire has a new sustainability strategy aimed at cutting carbon emissions and delivering social value.
The TRU was originally budgeted at £2.9bn in 2018 and the scope was widened and is now expected to cost up to £11.5bn and finish in 2041 instead of 2024 to reflect the greater volume of works. The majority of the benefits will be realised by early next decade, in fact the line between Stalybridge and Manchester will begin running electrified in the middle of this decade.
Work is taking place along the 70-mile rail link between Manchester and York, and is designed to increase reliability and frequency of services.
Last week, the government announced that Transpennine Express would become the sixth train operator in the UK to be effectively nationalised and run by the ‘operator of last resort’ following unacceptable levels of cancellation. ScotRail, SE Trains, Northern, Transport for Wales, LNER are already in the hands of the operator of last resort. In March, Avanti West Coast was granted another six months to run the west coast mainline connecting the North West with London until 15 October 2023.
The sustainability plan, titled ‘Our Guiding Compass’, includes:
- mitigating negative environmental impacts during construction
- enhancing natural environment surrounding the route
- 4,000 new roles during construction
- with 60% of the workforce employed from within 25 miles of the route
- and 80% within 40 miles
- 20% will be from underrepresented groups to create a diverse team
The proposed reduction in carbon emissions would be equivalent to taking six million cars off the road for a year.
Huw Merriman, rail minister, said: “Sustainability is at the heart of the Transpennine Route upgrade – delivering faster and more reliable electrified services in the North in a way that’s also better for our environment.”
Anna Humphries, head of sustainability and social value for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, said: “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a real impact on the lives of those who live in the North of England and ‘Our Guiding Compass’ puts in writing how we intend to do that.”
Rob Warnes, strategic development director at Northern Trains, said: “The Transpennine Route Upgrade will be transformative for our customers, enabling us to run greener, faster trains and slash our carbon emissions.”
Workers are being sourced locally, the government says. Credit: Network Rail
The environmental benefits include:
- 90% of construction waste to be recycled
- 99% of all non-hazardous materials diverted from landfill
- 10% net gain of biodiversity
- 6 million tonnes of CO2e saved over a 60-year period after work is complete
- 10% net gain of biodiversity
The estimated $4.28bn social value breakdown:
- £715m from buying goods and services from local business within a 25-mile radius
- £1.6bn from creating and safeguarding jobs and employing local people
- £29m through employing apprenticeships
- £338m through engaging students in inclusive education and routes into rail
- £1.5bn through reducing operational carbon by electrifying the route and shifting away from cars on the road
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The TRU upgrade almost encapsulates everything about why this country is in a mess. On one hand we believe Leeds- Manchester connectivity is so compelling we are prepared to spend £11BN on it, and other hand we plan to take 20 YEARS TO COMPLETE. This is not serious economics or politics, like HS2, politically too difficult to cancel, but let’s stretch it out – Treasury Brian and Tory indifference combine. I’d lay a small wager that if you polled people on the route and said we are going to close the Stalybridge-Leeds for 2 years, but the project will complete in 5 years a clear majority would say crack-on.
By Rich X
Stuff the sustainability just get on an build it. 2041 is laughable
By Millennial
Up to £11.5bn and finish in 2041? Why is the UK so inefficient at building and maintaining railways in the modern era? I’m sure many of our European friends could build a new railway line for that cost and in half the time.
By RailForAll
Just for people who say its incompetent to build it – I don’t think understand or definitely underestimate the age of our infrastructure currently – mining issues all need to be mitigated – embankments need to be widened, bridges and structures along the whole route need widening. All of this at the same time as HS2 would result in materials and labour shortages. Very daft to think that it could be done in 4 years.
By Anonymous
11.4 billion is ridiculous for an upgrade, where is all the money going? To consultants again?
Please look at other countries that manage to build railways in Europe cheaper than the UK make upgrades on theirs.
2041? 🙄🙄🙄🙄. Is this a way to cancel the project without officially cancelling it?
By Anonymous
What is the source of those claims?
By Anonymous
Not in any rush to cut carbon emissions if it’s not now going to be completed till2041.
By Anonymous
Won’t make a jot of difference until they build the two extra through platforms at Piccadilly
By Levelling Up Manager
The Chinese would have this built by December on time and for a fraction of the price.
By Anonymous
“… is now expected to cost up to £11.5bn and finish in 2041 instead of 2024 to reflect the greater volume of works.” Absolute eye wash; it’s kicking it down the track so when it’s not delivered to time or budget, current decision makers will be long gone.
By Mr Beeching