Network Rail reveals Yorkshire and Humber rail plan

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A plan to meet the increasing demand for rail in the Yorkshire and Humber region has been unveiled by Network Rail.

Covering routes such as Leeds to Bradford, York and Hull to Leeds and Manchester, and Sheffield to Manchester as well as important freight routes to the ports, the Yorkshire and Humber route utilisation strategy (RUS) outlines how Network Rail proposes to deliver a network capable of coping with the predicted growth in rail use over the next ten years.

Under the proposed strategy rail users could expect additional services, longer trains with more seats, as well as quicker journey times and better connections.

The plan also includes options to carry out station upgrades such as building new platforms, and improving track layouts to increase capacity and reduce delays. Freight routes in the region will also benefit through gauge enhancement schemes to allow bigger containers to be carried, providing a boost to the ports and terminals they serve.

The document is now subject to a 12 week consultation and the final document is due to be published in spring next year

"The growth in demand for rail throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region is excellent news for the industry, but this success brings us more challenges as we work to deliver a rail service passengers and freight users expect and demand," said Network Rail route director David Pape.

"The publication of this draft strategy to meet these challenges marks the start of our consultation. The feedback we get will play an important role in shaping the future of the railway throughout the region."