PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
NORTHERN RAIL HUB (16 May 2012)

That this House welcomes the growth in rail patronage experienced over the last 10 years and recognises that this has led to a busier network such that there is now a severe lack of capacity in many areas; notes that this lack of capacity is particularly critical across the north of England; further notes that Network Rail has developed the Northern Hub, a scheme to radically improve capacity across the North and stimulate economic growth by allowing for an additional 700 trains a day to travel, generating four billion pounds of benefits to the northern economy and delivering 20,000 to 30,000 extra jobs; is mindful of the benefit cost ratio of the scheme of 4:1 which is exceptional for a scheme of this magnitude; recognises the widespread support the scheme enjoys across the North from representatives of all political parties, the public as well as businesses; and urges the Government to realise the full benefits of the scheme by committing to the delivery of all its constituent parts in full in the period 2014 to 2019.

Sponsored by:
Jim Dobbin (Labour)