Tom Gordon Presses Government on Missing York Area Capacity Scheme Upgrades
Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has ensured that improvements to the York Area Capacity Scheme remain firmly on the Government’s agenda, after improvements to the scheme were left off today’s Northern Powerhouse Rail plans.
Speaking in Parliament, Tom recognised that the proposals put forward by the Labour Government today offer more promise than the Conservatives’ record on Northern transport, which was marked by the mishandling of HS2, chronic underinvestment in the rail network, and a loss of public confidence in the UK’s ability to deliver major transport projects on time and on budget.
However, he expressed clear disappointment that the latest plans do not include improvements to the York Area Capacity Scheme. Building on arguments he made last week, Tom stressed that upgrades to this scheme would relieve congestion at Skelton Junction, boost rail capacity, and strengthen connectivity across the North – improvements supported by Northern Rail during a recent meeting with Tom.
Tom also reinforced his calls for the Government to rule out any cancellation of the scheme’s improvements, ensuring it remains a priority in future plans and budgets. The Minister confirmed the plans have not been ruled out and committed to continuing discussions with Tom on how best to deliver them.
Commenting, Tom said:
“It was very disappointing to see the York Area Capacity Scheme absent from today’s Northern Rail plans. Upgrading this scheme would relieve congestion at Skelton Junction, increase capacity, and strengthen connectivity across the North.
“These are precisely the improvements the Government must prioritise if it is serious about delivering its growth plans.
“I am encouraged that the plans have not been ruled out for the future. I will continue to press the Government and work with ministers to ensure these upgrades are delivered, giving our communities the modern, reliable transport network they deserve.”
