“Much more needed” on TransPennine Upgrade

Responding to the Department for Transport (DfT) announcement that TransPennine Route Upgrade funding is going ahead as announced last year, rail union TSSA says “much more” is needed to tackle rip off ticket prices and to incentivise rail travel as part of the solution to the climate crisis.

The DfT has confirmed that £959million for the next phase of upgrades is what was announced in November 2021 as part of the Integrated Rail Plan. Once delivered in full, it will include track electrification, digital signalling and quicker journey times across the north of England.

Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary, said: "This is yet another re-announcement of existing funding from a headline-seeking Transport Secretary.

“The funding is of course welcome, but if this government was serious about backing our railways, then it needs to do much more to tackle rip off ticket prices and improve reliability and end-to-end journeys.

“Full commitment to a rolling programme of electrification and a concerted effort to encourage people out of private vehicles and into low-carbon public transport is needed more than ever as we experience the burning effects of climate change."