COMMUNITIES in Ferryhill have been “sold down the river by the government,” according to a prominent Northern Powerhouse representative after plans to resurrect the Leamside line were today scrapped.
For the last several years, cross-party MPs from County Durham have campaigned to bring the Leamside trainline ‘back on track’ by calling on the government to connect passengers from Ferryhill to Newcastle to the north and London to the south.
However, the Prime Minister seemingly dismissed the need for the ‘vital’ train network at a CBI meeting today – citing that “new infrastructure work isn’t necessary to level up the north”.
READ MORE Government's rejects study into reopening of Leamside Line
This latest update from the government comes after they announced last week that the eastern leg of HS2 between the Midlands and Leeds would be cut, while a promised Northern Powerhouse Rail link between Leeds and Manchester would run partly on existing tracks - which has faced backlash from politicians of all sides.
Mr Johnson took to the CBI meeting to tell those present that he has a “moral mission” to level up in the face of criticism of the Government’s decision to scale back rail upgrades, while attacking those that have rubbished the government’s rail reform plans.
He said: “I must say that I thought, as a lesson in what happens when you tell the British people we’re investing £96 billion in the biggest railway programme for 100 years, some of the coverage was missing the point, let me put it that way.
“So, Birmingham to Newcastle is 40 minutes quicker under the Integrated Rail Plan; from Newcastle to London will have 20 minutes shaved off because of the upgrades to the East Coast Mainline.
“You are mad as a railway enthusiast, which I am, to think that you always have to dig huge new trenches through virgin countryside and villages and housing estates in order to do high-speed rail.”
The Prime Minister also announced in his speech that fresh laws will see new homes, supermarkets and workplaces compelled to install electric car charging points, with Mr Johnson praising the upgraded power of e-cars despite not having the “vroom, vroom” satisfaction of petrol and diesel vehicles.
However, this most recent update on the Leamside line hasn’t gone down well with MPs and prominent voices within County Durham.
Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, today visited the site of the old Ferryhill train line and called today’s announcement from the government “the biggest blow to the local community”, who currently have to travel to Darlington to get on the mainline to Newcastle and London.
Speaking at the disused Ferryhill station, which has been mothballed since the 1960s, Mr Murison said: “I think the government are massively confused on what we have here in the North East – here is a train line that just needs to be kickstarted. It’s not a brand-new thing, it won’t take digging work and it won’t destroy the landscape.
“Boris Johnson has attended the region today, but I believe he’s not too sure what the current state of play is. First, HS2 is scrapped and then the railway here is shelved, how much can these communities go through? They deserve better and they deserve public transport fit for purpose.
“I want Ferryhill to have the same opportunities as people who grow up in Newcastle, and I want local people to campaign and fight for this train line that would revolutionise transport.”
Moving forward, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership are now looking to combine a rail campaign in both Ferryhill and Washington – but have put a cost of “anywhere between £600m and £1.7bn on the project”.
READ MORE Government asked to back opening Ferryhill railway station
Mr Murison added: “This is a critical time for the area and the announcement today is a lost opportunity. Any MP who thinks this isn’t a disaster needs to wake up and see the opportunity to do something positive.”
One County Durham politician that has been involved with the resurrection of the Leamside line throughout the campaign is Conservative MP for Sedgefield, Paul Howell, who remains positive about still getting the historic rail link up and running in the future through various funding streams.
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, Mr Howell said: “I’m disappointed that it didn’t go to the next stage there may be future opportunities to bid for this Line and I will be working closely with the Department for Transport to explore options.
“The reopening of Ferryhill Station has been one of my highest priorities since I was elected, and I will continue to fight for its reopening.
"There are many positives to the announcement but we need to see how capacity and connectivity on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) north of Darlington can be delivered.
"The Leamside Line is critical to the capacity needs for ECML and I will continue to push ministers for this to be developed and I have written to ministers to establish how we take this forward."
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