IT is difficult to perform a rapid u-turn on a railway line: the curvature of the track limits such a move. Unless, that is, you are Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport.
Mr Grayling seems to find it easy to perform u-turns regarding investment in critical northern rail links. Perhaps he has a railway turntable on which to rotate his policies through 180 degrees.
Just a few weeks ago Mr Grayling pledged significant upgrades to rail infrastructure in our region, including electrification of existing tracks and whispers of a new cross-Pennine ‘HS3’ route.
Now we find Mr Grayling on his turntable, merrily performing his u-turns: consigning northern rail projects to the sidings while speeding full steam ahead with HS2 and, in London, Crossrail2.
So while the capital’s commuters look forward to slick new rail links, York’s commuters continue to face overcrowding, congestion, and delays.
At the recent general election, Labour offered a brighter future for our railways. Its manifesto proposed substantial investment in northern rail infrastructure as part of a wider project to rebalance the economy away from London and the South East.
For now this brighter future is held at a signal, awaiting the electorate’s permission to proceed.
David O’Brien, Cameron Grove, York
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