Conservatives promise high speed rail link to Leeds

PPC Janice, commenting on Labour’s £34billion proposals for a high speed rail link from Scotland to London via Manchester and Liverpool, by-passing Leeds and Yorkshire region which would leave it economically isolated, said: “The Conservatives have promised a high speed line from London to Scotland, via Leeds, reducing the commute from 80 minutes. This investment has been promised by David Cameron as key to his argument that a third runway at Heathrow is not needed, on the grounds that fewer domestic flights would be required, releasing spare capacity”.

The commute would be reduced from 80 minutes on a new ultra-fast network that would initially link London, Manchester and Leeds.

The high-speed lines would eventually be extended to Newcastle and Scotland, providing an alternative to flying from Heathrow to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

An eight-point plan announced by shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers included making more use of existing track, creating a passengers' champion and increasing the length of train company franchises to up to 20 years to encourage investment.

Janice said the existing network was suffering from "chronic" overcrowding and needed longer trains, longer platforms and additional lines.

“I am also encouraged that the Conservatives might reopen defunct lines, proposing a moratorium on building over disused tracks that are still in public ownership.

"Our rail network is suffering from chronic levels of over-crowding," she said. "We desperately need new capacity - longer trains, longer platforms and, ultimately, additional lines." ENDS

Notes for editors:

The Conservatives propose strengthening the powers of rail regulators to create a passengers' champion, a consumer-focused watchdog able to ensure performance is improved, regardless of where the fault is.

That would include tougher penalties for failure, including the power to block the bonuses of senior management where appropriate.

Network Rail would have to answer to a new supervisory board with a stronger voice for passengers and train operators and the Government would have less say over timetables, which the Conservatives claim amounts to "Whitehall meddling".