The government’s £725 billion 10-year Strategy for infrastructure has received a generally broad welcome from the railway industry, but a council is criticising the omission of one scheme.

The Strategy document acknowledges that rail growth has been re-established, saying: ‘Although rail passenger demand fell during COVID, it has since rebounded and is expected to continue growing over this decade.’

The Strategy mostly confirms railway investments which had already been announced, such as £15.6 billion for the North and Midlands to fund a new tram system for Leeds and Bradford, upgrades at Leeds station, improvements for tram networks in several other cities and £3.5 billion for the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Also included are the next stage of work on the Midlands Rail Hub and continuing the construction of HS2, while further south there is £2.5 billion for completing East West Rail to Cambridge, funding of £2.2 billion for Transport for London capital projects and investment in Welsh rail schemes including Cardiff West Junction, although most infrastructure spending in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government. Domestic Scottish schemes are also devolved.

A budget of £41 million has been allocated for improving WiFi on trains, by using low-orbiting satellites.

The Railway Industry Association has been a vocal critic of ministers’ failure to update investment plans in recent years.

Chief executive Darren Caplan said: ’RIA has been a longstanding campaigner for a long-term plan for rail investment, enhancements and rolling stock so today’s Government announcement of a ten-year infrastructure strategy and the commitment to publish a pipeline in July is extremely welcome.

‘We look forward to seeing the full details of the pipeline, which will need to give businesses sufficient clarity to plan ahead.’

But the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow has warned the government not to take Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ‘for granted’ by ignoring an upgrade in his region which would improve rail freight flows.

He said: ‘Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is a place of innovation and world-changing breakthroughs, with an economy which is internationally renowned. But if Government thinks this success can be taken for granted, they are making a costly mistake.

‘Government must understand that fixing Ely Junction remains essential. Without it, we can’t unlock the full potential of our region or make good on the Government’s own vision for a thriving Cambridge economy which is critical to the country’s industrial future.

‘I look forward to more detail from the Department for Transport in mid-July on which projects will be funded. I continue to make the case that Ely Junction is the single, most obvious way to unblock our region’s transport. Government knows this and the business case is crystal clear.

‘Nobody doubts the North needs investment. But when £415 million was committed to rail upgrades between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, with a return of £2.50 for every £1 spent, our own Ely Junction, which returns nearly £5 for every £1 invested, should be hard to ignore.’

Do you have a comment? Please click here to send an email to Platform at Railnews.

Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.