I don't think it has been mentioned on here that As previously linked by
@WatcherZero in post #234, TfN recently published a new document
"Transport for the North's advice to government on the Northern Powerhouse Rail network". This gives more detail than previously in the public domain about TfN's preferred route network, and has a new schematic map of the network:
It is easy to read too much into this, but it seems to show the new line from Manchester to Bradford near to the Diggle line across the hills rather than the Calder Valley route. The new line from Warrington to Liverpool appears to be closer to the CLC line than the freight line via Fiddlers Ferry. Note the two new stations "Rotherham Main Line" and "Barnsley Dearne Valley" on the Sheffield - Leeds line.
And there is this table of "forecast" frequencies and journey times:
The document has comments that try to make the case for each route. Some extracts below:
Regarding Bradford:
Transport for the North has worked with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to identify a new station site that could support the transformation of the city centre and unlock the regeneration of the ’Southern Gateway’, a 100-hectare area adjacent to the city centre. A new station could be integrated with the existing rail network, connecting with the developing proposals for a mass transit network to be built in advance of Northern Powerhouse Rail, and releasing further land for economic development.
Regarding Liverpool:
The best way to connect these two cities to each other, and beyond, comes with a new line from Liverpool to Manchester via the centre of Warrington.
Only the new line options free up much-needed capacity on the West Coast Main Line and add resilience to an already strained part of the network; a new hub station in Liverpool will add capacity, reducing the impact of terminus stations, and support improvements in journey times. There will also be capacity released for potential future passenger routes between Liverpool and Runcorn, Chester and North Wales, and for shuttle services utilising the Chat Moss and Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC) lines.
Regarding the Hope Valley line:
We have more work to do to confirm the best way to approach Manchester city centre and opportunities will be looked at to speed up delivery of the Hope Valley upgrades. The current preferred option would result in a connection to HS2/Northern Powerhouse Rail infrastructure for onward journeys to Liverpool and Manchester Airport. This would provide wider benefits for northern cities, for example, significantly improving journey times and frequency between Sheffield and Liverpool. However, while the best way to approach Manchester is still under consideration, it is vital that we explore all options.
Note that the map shows the New Mills - Marple route as a NPR line as well as the Hazel Grove - Stockport route. Presumably the Marple line is the option that would enable Sheffield trains to access the Piccadilly HS2 station, via Ashburys. However, this would kibosh TfGM's plan to run tram-trains to Rose Hill Marple!
Regarding Newcastle:
The full reinstatement of the Leamside line, and the upgrades to Northallerton-Stockton-Stillington, would separate high speed passenger and freight services which could support an improvement in train reliability and performance, as well as releasing capacity on the East Coast Main Line which is needed to meet forecast future demand.
Regarding Sheffield - Leeds:
Northern Powerhouse Rail will capitalise on the HS2 eastern leg infrastructure to provide a much-improved railway connection between Sheffield and Leeds. Four Northern Powerhouse Rail services per hour will be provided which will share HS2 infrastructure to Leeds and provide dramatically better journey times. Before joining HS2, an upgrade including the electrification of the conventional railway network north of Sheffield is proposed, where Northern Powerhouse Rail services will serve new intermediate stations at Rotherham Mainline and Barnsley Dearne Valley enhancing connectivity. These new intermediate stations will also significantly transform communities with high levels of deprivation and offer significantly improved access to employment centres in Sheffield and Leeds.
To provide capacity for Northern Powerhouse Rail services on the railway north of Sheffield, local services between Sheffield and Doncaster will be served by an extended tram train network. Building on the successful tram train pilot to Rotherham Parkgate, this will provide new local journey opportunities this will provide new local journey opportunities between Sheffield city centre and the supertram network and intermediate stations through Rotherham and Doncaster.
Tram-trains to Doncaster is a new one on me!
Regarding Hull:
Northern Powerhouse Rail proposes to electrify and upgrade the rail lines from Leeds to Hull via Selby, and upgrade the lines from Sheffield to Hull via Goole and Selby.
Electrification will permit cleaner, faster, and more reliable trains to run between these cities. Combined with track and signalling upgrades to provide further journey time benefits, access will be improved to jobs for the residents of Hull, one of the 10 per cent most deprived local authorities in England: a key strategic need identified in Hull’s city plan.
The nature of the proposed improvements on routes to Hull means that rapid progress could be made toward a possible start of construction in the mid-2020s, delivering benefits to the region soon after.
I thought Leeds - Selby electrification is included in the TRU project?
Edit: 1st para. corrected per #316 below.
