Campaign update, November 2023
The Beverley to York rail line: update from the Minsters Rail Campaign, May 2023
Where are we now?
On 27th October 2021 it was announced that our joint bid with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) to the Department for Transport (DfT) Restoring Your Railway (RYR) Ideas Fund had been successful. The DfT (75%) and ERYC (25%) funded a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC).
How did we get here?
1) Reports and meetings.
The Carl Bro report (2005) commissioned by ERYC showed that the reinstatement was feasible, with benefits that would represent value for money. Although the East Riding Local Plan (2012-29) did not commit to protecting the route from development, ERYC continued to offer support in principle. Following MRC meetings with the rail minister and Graham Stuart MP, the DfT commissioned a concept study by Steer Davies Gleave (2016) confirming the project’s feasibility.
2) The developing case for reinstatement
The current case for reinstatement includes not only the economic and social benefits of reconnecting central East Yorkshire to the rail network, but also the need for an alternative link from the East Riding to the national rail system. This is because the main route out of Hull is vulnerable to flooding and sea level rise: hence our strapline “Connectivity and Resilience”. We also now place greater emphasis on the line’s potential contribution for carbon reduction.
3) Restoring your Railway Ideas Fund
The DfT’s RYR Ideas Fund (2020) promotes proposals to reinstate lines. In February 2020 a unanimous ERYC council motion committed it to work with Government and partners to assess the feasibility of reinstatement, applying for RYR funding for a new study. Following an initial bid (2020), a revised MRC/ERYC joint bid, with input from consultancy firm AECOM, was submitted in March 2021. Sponsoring MPs were Graham Stuart (Beverley) and Julian Sturdy (York Outer).
Where do we go next?
AECOM were commissioned by MRC and ERYC to undertake the SOBC. This entailed close working with AECOM and regular meetings with specialists from the DfT RYR team and Network Rail. Although the aspirations of MRC and ERYC can only be met by a heavy rail solution, the SOBC had to examine all options. The SOBC was submitted in Round 3 of Restoring Your Railways Fund in August 2022 with the blessing of MRC and ERYC. It made a positive case for the line, but refinements are now being undertaken to present the best and most cost effective case to the government for the next stage of development.
The campaign continues to be well and effectively supported by Graham Stuart MP and other MPs in the region. Recently Graham Stuart’s survey of East Riding residents showed that 98% of respondents supported the scheme. There will shortly be a meeting between Graham Stuart, MRC, and AECOM about the next stage in the campaign.