Transport for the North

Transport for the North (TfN)
Agency overview
Formed 2018
Type Statutory coorporation
Headquarters 4 Piccadilly Place, Manchester, M1 3BN
Agency executive
Website www.transportforthenorth.com
Map
Map showing the North of England, the organisation's area of responsibility
4 Piccadilly Place, TfN's Headquarters

Transport for the North (TfN) is the first statutory sub-national transport body in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 2018 to make the case for strategic transport improvements across the North of England.[1][2] TfN brings together the North’s nineteen local transport authorities and business leaders together with Network Rail, Highways England, and HS2 Ltd and works with Central Government.[3]

About

TfN is partnership of public and private sector representatives working with central government and national transport bodies to develop and deliver strategic transport infrastructure across the North of England.[4] Through the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016, a statutory instrument was laid before Parliament in November 2017.[5][6] Following Parliamentary approval, TfN's functions have been enshrined in legislation and came in to force in April 2018.[7] TfN is a Statutory Partner to the Department for Transport, Highways England, and Network Rail to ensure that the North’s pan-Northern strategic transport priorities are developed and delivered.

Constituent authorities

Governance

In January 2018, legislation was approved in the House of Commons to establish TfN as the first sub-national transport body in England.[8] The legislation was approved following consent from 56 local authorities in the North. The statutory body came in to force on 1 April 2018.[9]

As a Statutory Body, TfN's powers include:[10]

  • Producing a statutory transport strategy, which the Government of the time must formally consider in the decision making process.
  • Funding organisations to deliver transport projects.
  • Working with local transport authorities to fund, promote and deliver road schemes.
  • Be consulted on all rail franchises that provide services in the North.
  • Take forward smart ticketing on public transport.

The functions of Rail North, an existing association of local authorities, are now the responsibility of TfN, which include currently co-managing with the Department for Transport the Arriva Rail North and TransPennine Express rail franchises with the Government.[11]

Strategic Transport Plan

TfN published its draft Strategic Transport Plan for consultation on 16 January 2018.[12][13][14] There is a public consultation on the Plan until 17 April 2018.[15]

The Plan sets out the case for investment in transport across the North by 2050, along with the key strategic transport infrastructure requirements. The work is being informed by the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review (NPIER).[16] This analysis has shown that the North of England has significant potential, and could generate an additional 850,000 jobs and £100 billion GVA.

The objectives of the draft Strategic Transport Plan are to:[17]

  • Increase efficiency, reliability and resilience in the transport system
  • Transform economic performance
  • Improve access to opportunities across the North
  • Promote and support the built and natural environment

TfN programmes of work include:

Northern Powerhouse Rail - a major strategic rail programme, transforming connectivity between the key economic centres of the North, including Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, Newcastle and Liverpool – and the North's largest international airport, Manchester Airport.[18] TfN's analysis suggests that it could increase the number of people within one hour of four of the largest cities in the North from less than 10,000 to 1.3 million.[19][20] TfN have also stated that Northern Powerhouse Rail could bring Manchester Airport within 90 minutes reach of 3 million more people.[21]

The draft Strategic Transport Plan has set out an 'emerging vision' for Northern Powerhouse Rail, and will be delivered over a 30 year programme. This vision is:[22][23][24]

  • A new line between Liverpool and the HS2 Manchester Spur via Warrington[25]
  • Eight through services per hour at Manchester Piccadilly
  • A new line between Manchester and Leeds via Bradford[26]
  • Significant upgrades on the Hope Valley line between Sheffield and Manchester via Stockport
  • Enhanced connections between Leeds and Sheffield via HS2 Phase 2B and upgrading the route from Sheffield
  • Significant upgrades between Leeds and Newcastle via a new HS2 junction and upgrades to the East Coast Mainline
  • Significant upgrades on the line between Leeds and Hull via Selby, and Sheffield and Hull via Doncaster

Journey times between Leeds and Manchester could take 30 minutes compared with 49 minutes, and Sheffield to Leeds journey times could take 26 minutes compared with the current 41 minutes.[27]

The draft Strategic Transport Plan sets out that using planned HS2 infrastructure, junctions could be built to support Northern Powerhouse Rail services. These could be on the:[28]

  • HS2 mainline for Leeds – North East services
  • HS2 Leeds spur to facilitate through services via existing Leeds station
  • HS2 mainline for Sheffield – Leeds services
  • HS2 Manchester spur for Manchester – Liverpool services
  • South facing junction on HS2 mainline for London – Liverpool services

Long Term Rail Strategy[29] - TfN has sets out an ambitious vision to transform the North’s railway network with new major investment projects and services. Currently rail is only 1.1% share of total trips in the North, and currently rail passengers are three times higher than 20 years ago, growth of 6.3% per year, while capacity has only increased by an average of 6.45% over the same period.[30]

New Arriva Rail North rolling stock

Minimum standards for the rail network will include[31]:

  • Minimum two trains per hour
  • Journey times of at least 80mph for long-distance services, at least 60mph for inter-urban services, and at least 40mph for local and suburban services
  • Ensure the rail network accommodates for freight, including longer and heavier trains, and clearance of structures on the network (also known as gauge clearance) as there is not currently a cleared route across the Pennines
  • A 50% improvement in the average speed of freight services by 2028
  • Rail connections to serve each of the North’s international airports
  • Infrastructure to enable a weekday inter-peak level service on Sundays and bank holidays
  • The North's major ports in the North to be served by a railway to support future growth of rail freight
New rolling stock for the Transpennine Express franchise

Through Rail North, the Transpennine Express and Arrive Rail North franchises will transform the North rail network, delivering the ambition and specification set out by TfN. This includes:[32][33]

  • £1.5 billion investment on rolling stock, including 500 new or refurbished train carriages
  • 2,000 extra services a week by 2019
  • £60 million investment at stations
The Draft Major Road Network, as consulted on by the Department for Transport

Major Road Network for the North[34] - TfN has set out a Major Road Network for the North, which includes Highways England's Strategic Roads Network and local transport authority managed roads. The Major Road Network for the North is around 8,000 km or 7% of the North’s roads. This formed key evidence for the Department for Transport's development of a Major Road Network for England. The Major Road Network for the North aims to[35]:

  • Enable international connectivity to ports and airports
  • Support agglomeration economies
  • Support growth in key employment and housing sites
  • Increase the resilience of the economy
  • Enable efficient journeys by different modes of transport
  • Improve access to opportunities

New funding for this network was announced in October 2018 for two schemes[36];

Part of the M60 in North West Manchester

Strategic Roads Studies[37] - TfN have been undertaking three road studies, with progress updates set out in the draft Strategic Transport Plan:

  • Trans Pennine Tunnel Strategic Study - providing significantly improved road connectivity between Greater Manchester and Sheffield City Region. The draft Strategic Transport Plan has stated that a long tunnel under the Peak District National Park is technically feasible, but the cost would be substantial and offer poor value for money. TfN have now set out that they are developing alternative options that will be more cost-effective. TfN suggest that the most promising alternative is a partially tunnelled route on the A628, with wider road enhancements, including on the M60, M67 and M1.
  • Northern Trans Pennine Routes Study - developing the case for improving the A66 between the A1 at Scotch Corner and the M6 at Penrith, including improvements to the A69 between Newcastle and Carlisle.
  • Manchester North West Quadrant Strategic Study - Exploring options for significant improvements to sections of the M60, M62, M602, M61 and M66.
Contactless payments across public transport in the North

Integrated and Smart Travel[38] - a smart ticketing programme to allow seamless travel on public transport across the North. It is proposed that emerging technologies will allow modern payment methods and mobile travel information on all public transport in the North.[39] Paying for journeys will become quicker, easier and more convenient. TfN is delivering a £150 million government funded programme.

The programme will be delivered in three phases:[40]

  • Phase One - Smartcards on rail - as part of a national programme for smart ticketing on all rail travel.
  • Phase Two - Customer information, collaboration and innovation - open data and disruption information for rail and bus passengers to support single and multi-mode journeys.
  • Phase Three - Account-based travel - allowing passengers to make contactless bank card payments with a 'fair price promise' with a capping of fares on all modes of public transport.

Strategic Development Corridors[41] - identifying transport infrastructure improvements in economic growth areas, where evidence suggests investment in transport infrastructure will enable transformational economic growth. TfN have also stated that these Corridors will prioritise and sequence transport projects that will transform economic growth, promote cost effectiveness of all modes of transport, explore digital technologies, explore a more efficient use of existing networks and provide capacity to meet the future economic demand, and protect the environment.[42]

Investment Programme

TfN suggests the transport improvements it is promoting could cost between £60 - 70 billion over the next 30 years.[43][44]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Transport for the North set to take up statutory powers - The Transport Network". www.transport-network.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  2. ↑ "£260M for Northern statutory transport body". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  3. ↑ Transport for the North (2018), About Us
  4. ↑ Walker, Andy (28 October 2016). "Transport for the North applies for devolved powers". Infrastructure Intelligence. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  5. ↑ "North set to become first region in country to get new transport powers from government - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  6. ↑ "North set to become first region in country to get new transport powers from government". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  7. ↑ "The Sub-national Transport Body (Transport for the North) Regulations 2017". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  8. ↑ Cox, Charlotte (2017-11-16). "Northern leaders to finally have major say on roads, rail and ticketing". men. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  9. ↑ "Transport for the North to become the first Sub-national Transport Body in England - Transport for the North". Transport for the North. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "The Sub-national Transport Body (Transport for the North) Regulations 2017". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  11. ↑ "North set to become first region in country to get new transport powers from government - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  12. ↑ "Doubts over northern transport plan funding". BBC News. 2018. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  13. ↑ UK, DVV Media. "Strategic Transport Plan for northern England published". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  14. ↑ "Armitt welcomes ambitious plans for transport in the North - National Infrastructure Commission". National Infrastructure Commission. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  15. ↑ "Ipsos MORI Surveys". www.ipsos.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "SQW :: Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review". www.sqw.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  17. ↑ "Strategic Transport Plan - Transport for the North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  18. ↑ "Northern Powerhouse Rail | Transport for the North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  19. ↑ Pidd, Helen (2018-01-16). "Four cities, 1 hour, 1.3m people: new northern rail plan revealed". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  20. ↑ Pidd, Helen (2018-01-16). "Four cities, 1 hour, 1.3m people: new northern rail plan revealed". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  21. ↑ "Northern Powerhouse Rail | Transport for the North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  22. ↑ "Draft Strategic Transport Plan - January 2018" (PDF).
  23. ↑ RAILNEWS. "Emerging vision for Northern Powerhouse rail unveiled | Railnews | Today's news for Tomorrow's railway". www.railnews.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  24. ↑ "Transport plan reveals Northern Powerhouse Rail proposals". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  25. ↑ "'Emerging vision' for Northern Powerhouse rail network includes Warrington on new line". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  26. ↑ "VIDEO: Bradford set to get station on high speed Northern Powerhouse Rail line". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  27. ↑ "The North is watching: Ex-Chancellor's warning to Government as 'revolutionary' 30-year Yorkshire transport vision is unveiled". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  28. ↑ "Draft Strategic Transport Plan - January 2018" (PDF). www.transportforthenorth.com/stp.
  29. ↑ "Strategic Rail | Transport for the North | Rail North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  30. ↑ "Strategic Rail | Transport for the North | Rail North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  31. ↑ "Strategic Rail | Transport for the North | Rail North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  32. ↑ "Latest news | Northern | Northern - Northern". www.northernrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  33. ↑ "New £500m Northern train fleet unveiled - Transport for the North". Transport for the North. 2018-10-05. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  34. ↑ "Draft Strategic Transport Plan - January 2018" (PDF). www.transportforthenorth.com/stp.
  35. ↑ "Major Roads | Transport the North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  36. ↑ "Grayling unveils major road schemes and gives a pothole teaser - The Transport Network". www.transport-network.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  37. ↑ Cox, Charlotte (2018-01-16). "The 30 year plan to transform transport in the north of England". men. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  38. ↑ "Integrated and Smart Travel | Transport for the North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  39. ↑ "Integrated and Smart Travel | Transport for the North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  40. ↑ "Integrated and Smart Travel | Transport for the North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  41. ↑ "Strategic Transport Plan Evidence - Transport for the North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  42. ↑ "Strategic Development Corridors | Transport for the North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  43. ↑ "Strategic Transport Plan - Transport for the North". Transport for the North. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  44. ↑ "Northern Powerhouse plans urge £70bn for infrastructure". Construction News. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
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