Minsters Rail Line moves a step closer.
The reinstatement of the Beverley to York rail line moved a step closer when members of the Minsters Rail Campaign met Rail Minister, Paul Maynard , at Westminster last week.
The Campaign has been working since 2001 to reinstate the line joining Beverley, Market Weighton, Pocklington, Stamford Bridge and Haxby to the national rail network at York
The meeting at the Department for Transport was set up and attended by Beverley and Holderness Conservative MP Graham Stuart who is a long standing supporter of the campaign. Members received advice and encouragement from the Minister who said he was interested in the possibility that the line represents and was looking forward to getting a better understanding of where it sits within wider possibilities for the region.
The Minister recommended that the group continue with their campaign.
Graham Stuart offered to facilitate another meeting with the Local Enterprise Partnerships to discuss funding for a Business Case Study which would unlock central government funding to enable the project to be included in Network Rail plans for 2019-2024.
Campaign chairman Peter Hemmerman said, “meeting the minister was a great opportunity - and I felt it was a positive and productive meeting. I am confident that the line will be built within the next few years and will bring massive benefits for the region and significant improvement in everyday travel for residents and visitors alike: we are indebted to the Rail Minster for his time and enthusiasm and to Graham Stuart and Roy Begg at the Beverley and Holderness Conservative Association for their help and support. ”
Mr Hemmerman added: “ it’s important for people to understand that this project is not in competition with road improvements - and that the feasibility study must show that the project will bring greater economic benefits than it costs; the study conducted in 2005 showed conclusively that it would; we are confident that the updated study will bolster the case for drawing down central government funding for the project through Network Rail”.
Earlier in October Transport Minister Chris Grayling said that the key criteria for determining if a rail project should go ahead were whether it would ease congestion and open up economic development or housing opportunity.” The Transport Minister added “ I think we need to focus on smaller projects:- we can generate more bang for the buck with simple rail schemes”.
The Minsters Rail Campaign are confident that this project is in line with these aims.
Contact details:
Peter Hemmerman: 01430 871033 07973963089
Peter.hemmerman@gmail.com