Question
In yesterday’s Budget, there was one mention of Northern Powerhouse Rail. One of the easiest ways to deliver benefit for passengers would be to unlock the indefinitely paused York area capacity scheme. Will the Secretary of State commit to continuing to look at this, and make sure that passengers in Harrogate and Knaresborough, and along that line, get trains when they need them with the service they would expect?
Answer
As part of Northern Powerhouse Rail, we are prioritising improvements in the Yorkshire region, such as services from York to Leeds, and between Sheffield, Bradford and Leeds. Indeed, I was in Bradford just last week to make the announcement about a brand-new station at Bradford, which is much needed. I know the hon. Member continues to champion the case for the York area capacity study. We will continue to keep all of this under review, because we must provide the right number of trains, where people need them and when they need them.17% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (30/100)
The reply partly responds to the question. On the paused York area capacity scheme, the department says it will keep the scheme under review, but gives no timetable or mechanism for that review, so the commitment is vague. On the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Harrogate line services, the reply offers only a general statement about getting trains to people where and when they need them, with no specific commitment. Overall the answer is largely hedged, and the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up for concrete detail.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Secretary of State commit to continuing to consider unlocking the paused York area capacity scheme? | Addressed | Hedged | The item asks for a commitment to keep considering the paused York area capacity scheme, and statement 5 explicitly commits to continuing to review it, while statement 4 acknowledges the York area capacity study. However, the commitment is only to 'keep under review' with no concrete mechanism or date, and statement 1's Northern Powerhouse Rail reference to York–Leeds services is only tangentially related to the paused scheme. |
| Will the Secretary of State commit to ensuring that passengers in Harrogate, Knaresborough and along that line get trains when they need them, with the service they would expect? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | Statement 6 engages with the underlying principle of getting trains to people where and when they need them, but it is a generic platitude that makes no commitment about the Harrogate, Knaresborough or Harrogate line service specifically. The Bradford station statements (2–3) do not bear on this item. |