West Yorkshire 'fed up' of Government transport promises
Yesterday, the transport secretary confirmed the eastern leg of HS2, between Leeds and the Midlands, has been scrapped.
A Leeds MP says people in West Yorkshire are 'fed up' of the transport promises made by the government- after the eastern leg of HS2 was scrapped yesterday (18th November).
What was announced for HS2 and the integrated rail plan?
The Transport Secretary said the £96 billion Integrated Rail Plan would still slash journey times across the region with 110 miles of new high-speed line.
HS2 was originally planned to run to Leeds, but in the announcement today Grant Shapps said it would now stop near Nottingham.
The £96 billion plan does still keep some of the high-speed rail lines, the Transport Secretary told the Commons: “This new blueprint delivers three high-speed lines. First, that’s Crewe to Manchester.
“Second, Birmingham to the East Midlands with HS2 trains continuing to central Nottingham and central Derby, Chesterfield and Sheffield on an upgraded mainline. And third, a brand new high-speed line from Warrington to Manchester and to the western border of Yorkshire – slashing journey times across the north.”
What are the plans now for Leeds?
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the Government will “study” how best to take HS2 trains into Leeds and committed to starting work on a West Yorkshire mass transit system.
He said: “We’ll study how best to take HS2 trains into Leeds as well. We’ll start work on the new West Yorkshire mass transit system, righting the wrong of this major city, probably the largest in Europe which doesn’t have a mass transit system.
“We commit today to supporting West Yorkshire Combined Authority over the long-term to ensure that this time it actually gets done.”
Plans for a mass transit system
Grant Shapps also promised a mass transit system for Leeds.
It would see a tram network, like in cities like Sheffield.
Rachel Reeves MP said:
"Frankly people are getting sick of promises, because they can't trust a word this government says.
"They promised HS2 for the last 11 years, it's not being cancelled, they promised the Northern Powerhouse Rail, it's not happening, they promised a train station in Bradford, that's not happening.
"So they can make all the promises they want, but until we actually see some delivery in West Yorkshire, I think you can forgive people for feeling a little bit cynical about this governments commitment to our people and our region."