Big Day for Rail in the North! Right Track North campaign + One North report. Goodbye to the Pacers?

Tuesday 5th August 2014 Today is an important day for the prospects of significant and transformatory investment in the northern rail network:

Campaign for Better Transport have launched their Right Track North campaign: ‘The north of England needs fast, high capacity and high quality rail connections. Right Track North is a new campaign committed to making this a reality’. The CBT press release New charter demands Government address the North-South rail divide is here and their Right Track North charter here.

– the One North report A Proposition for an interconnected North – formulated in response to Sir David Higgins’ original HS2 Plus report and the Chancellor’s Northern Powerhouse speech on 23rd June – has been launched by an alliance of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield. Download the report here; read the press release and city leaders statements here; and George Osborne’s speech responding to the report here.

Read the Transport North! comments about our own Rail in the North priority campaign here, and our reflections on North-South divide and East-West opportunities here.

CBT say: There are plenty of things you can do to get involved in Right Track North campaign:
· Read the Campaign for Better Transport briefing: Have a look at our assessment of Government’s plans
· Sign up for our e-bulletin: Campaign for Better Transport’s monthly e-bulletin will keep you up to date with the campaign and how you can make your voice heard
· Respond to the Government consultation: Department for Transport is running a public consultation on their plans for Northern Rail and Trans Pennine Express franchises which runs until 18 August
· Keep up to date: Follow @RightTrackNorth on Twitter to keep bang up to date with campaign developments

The Right Track North campaign is a partnership of passengers, local authorities, businesses and Campaign for Better Transport. If you represent such a group and you would like to find out more about the Charter, please get in touch.