Ministers have removed funding and powers from the umbrella transport authority for the north, in what Labour described as a “Whitehall power grab” following the body’s furious reaction of swingeing cuts to the flagship Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project.
The chair of Transport for the North (TfN), Louise Gittins, branded the government’s Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) “woefully inadequate” on Thursday, after it massively scaled back the NPR project linking Manchester and Leeds and ditched the bulk of the HS2 high-speed track extension from Birmingham to Yorkshire.
One industry source said that the removal of TfN from responsibility for developing NPR was intended by ministers to reduced scrutiny and accountability and “hide their own mismanagement”.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said the move was clear proof of opposition in Whitehall to the north having a strong voice.
TfN, which is overseen by a board of northern mayors and council leaders, had proposed a £36bn scheme for a new rail line between Manchester and Leeds, with a stop in Bradford.
But the government announced on Thursday that it would green-light only a small section of new track, with most of the route running on an existing trans-Pennine route via Huddersfield, bypassing Bradford.
TfN had been the co-client on the project alongside Grant Shapps’s Department for Transport (DfT) and was responsible for instructing infrastructure manager Network Rail.
But in a letter to TfN chief executive Martin Tugwell, the DfT said it would be taking sole responsibility for directing future work on the project.
David Hughes, director of the DfT’s Rail Infrastructure Group, said that the department intended to take “full and immediate responsibility” for developing NPR’s strategic outline case. TfN would then be relegated to an advisory role, becoming only a “co-sponsor” of the project.
The letter said the DfT expects staff will have to leave TfN and that the change will have “significant impacts for staff currently working on the programme”.
It also adds: “Northern leaders will continue to be able to shape the NPR programme through direct, regular access to the secretary of state in the Northern Transport Acceleration Council (NTAC).”
Mr Burnham said: “It’s worrying. There’s clearly a number of people in Whitehall who don’t like the idea of the north having a stronger voice. They want to dictate rather than work in partnership.
“The minute the north starts to come up with solutions and positive interventions, it tries to rein us in. Not only did we lose out on infrastructure, we got silenced as well.”
Mr Tugwell defended TfN’s “demonstrable track record” and said it was “essential” that the body continues to shape Northern Powerhouse Rail.
“TfN is in discussion with DfT officials about the best possible way of moving the NPR programme forward in an efficient and inclusive manner,” he said.
“TfN has a demonstrable track record in developing evidence-led, cost effective solutions that reflect the needs of the north’s communities. It is essential that the NPR programme continues to be shaped by the knowledge, insight and constructive challenge that underpins TfN’s work.”
Mr Burnham said he would “fight” for the survival of TfN.
“This is the one formal structure in the British machinery of government that allows the north to come together with one voice,” he said.
One industry source told The Independent: “The DfT want to take the NPR programme away from the limited scrutiny and accountability it currently has to hide their own mismanagement, as the only reason why these rail projects are behind schedule is because it took so long for them to agree the IRP.”
The source dismissed the NTAC as “just a talking shop, with Shapps on it when he can be bothered to turn up and fronted by (former TfN chair) John Cridland, who is his stooge”.
“The only thing it has accelerated is press releases,” said the source. “If it was talking about private aviation, then the secretary of state might show an interest.
“They are hitting TfN as it’s the only STB (surface transportation board) that has a voice, because of its mayors. The DfT officials and ministers hate that.
“The IRP showed the government are not serious about investing in the north, they are just hoping Red Wall voters don’t look beyond the spin.”
Labour described the change as a Whitehall “power grab”. Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: “It was clear that once Transport for the North found its own voice and came up with a Northern Powerhouse Rail plan the government didn’t support, it would meet its end.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport, said: “As we deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail, as part of our £96bn investment into the railway, we must ensure there is clear accountability and oversight which provides significant benefits for passengers as quickly as possible.
“As with all major projects, the programme will be managed by the government.”
