One of the cornerstone policies of the Northern Powerhouse appears to have hit the buffers.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has announced that the electrification of the train line between Liverpool, Manchester Leeds and Hull will happen instead “where it makes a difference”.

The plans, first announced as part of former Chancellor George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse initiative and which were promised to be completed by 2022, were put on hold two years ago over concerns about the management of the scheme.

Grayling also said that it was too difficult to run electric pylons along the whole line between the two cities, and that bi-modal trains could instead operate with diesel engines on part of the network and that the programme to upgrade the through platforms at Manchester Piccadilly station – which are currently overloaded and cause delays – would be reviewed.

In an open letter to the transport secretary, the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham expressed surprise and disappointment about the potential ‘downgrade’ of the electrification of the rail line between Manchester and Leeds and changes to the plans to upgrade Piccadilly station.

“The electrification of the line across the North is critical to the delivery of your Government’s promise of a Northern Powerhouse. The North has suffered from a lack of investment compared to the rest of the country and has had to put up with second class transport for too long.”

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on Chris Grayling’s comments that the full electrification of the Leeds to Manchester train line won’t go ahead, said:

“This is a slap in the face for commuters and businesses in the North.
“Just six weeks ago the Tories promised the electrification of the Trans-Pennine route as an integral part of the government’s ‘Northern Powerhouse’.
“For years the Tories have promised electrification for the North, delivering faster, greener and more reliable services along with the significant economic benefits brought about by improved connectivity.
“The Tories have gone from Northern Powerhouse to Northern Powercut! Another broken promise from a Government that’s hit the buffers.
“Chris Grayling had to be forced to come to parliament to give his HS2 statement and has sneaked this out in an interview after the Commons has risen.
“Voters won’t be fooled by Grayling’s claim that the same benefits will be realised without electrification.
“With our commitment to deliver a Crossrail for the North, it’s clear only Labour has the ambition to transform the economies of the North of England for the many not the few.”

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