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Statutory sub-national transport body responsible for developing transport in the north of England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Transport for the North (TfN) is the first statutory sub-national transport body in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 2018 to make the case for strategic transport improvements across the North of England.[1][2] Creating this body represented an unprecedented devolution of power from central government.[3] TfN brings together the North's twenty local transport authorities and business leaders together with Network Rail, National Highways, and HS2 and works with the UK Government.[4] The organisation has offices in Manchester and Leeds.[5]
 | This article needs to be updated. (December 2021) |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2018 |
| Type | Sub-national transport body |
| Headquarters | Level 6, Town Hall Extension, Lloyd Street, Manchester M2 5DB |
| Employees | 122 |
| Agency executives |
|
| Website | transportforthenorth |
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TfN is partnership of public and private sector representatives working with the UK Government and national transport bodies to develop and deliver strategic transport infrastructure across the North of England.[6] Through the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016, a statutory instrument was laid before Parliament in November 2017.[7] Following parliamentary approval, TfN's functions have been enshrined in legislation and came in to force in April 2018.[8] TfN is a statutory partner to the Department for Transport, National Highways, and Network Rail to ensure that the North's pan-Northern strategic transport priorities are developed and delivered.
TfN's work is to align with the statutory local transport plan of the existing local transport authorities, as no powers have been taken away from local government.[9] The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 as amended states that TfN's constituent authorities must 'exercise transport functions with a view to securing the implementation of the proposals contained in the STB's transport strategy.'[10]
In January 2018, legislation was approved in the House of Commons to establish TfN as the first sub-national transport body in England.[11] The legislation was approved following consent from 56 local authorities in the North. The statutory body came in to force on 1 April 2018.[12]
As a statutory body, TfN's powers include:[8]
The functions of Rail North, an existing association of local authorities, are now the responsibility of TfN, which include currently co-managing with the Department for Transport the Northern Trains and TransPennine Express rail franchises with the Government.[7]
The TfN Board approved the Strategic Transport Plan in February 2019 following consultation between January – April 2018.[13][14][15][16][17]
The Plan sets out the case for investment in transport across the North by 2050, along with the key strategic transport infrastructure requirements. The work is being informed by the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review (NPIER).[18] This analysis has shown that the North of England has significant potential, and could generate:
The objectives of the Strategic Transport Plan are to:[19]
TfN programmes of work include:
Northern Powerhouse Rail – a £39 billion major strategic rail programme, transforming connectivity between the key economic centres of the North, including Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, Newcastle and Liverpool – and the North's largest international airport, Manchester Airport.[20][21][22] TfN's analysis suggests that it could increase the number of people within one hour of four of the largest cities in the North from less than 10,000 to 1.3 million.[23] TfN have also stated that Northern Powerhouse Rail could bring Manchester Airport within 90 minutes reach of 3 million more people.[20]
The Strategic Transport Plan has set out an 'emerging vision' for Northern Powerhouse Rail, and will be delivered over a 30-year programme. This vision is:[24][25][26][27]
Journey times and service frequency
The current expected service frequencies and journey times between Northern Cities from Northern Powerhouse Rail:[29]
| Journey time before NPR
(hr:min) |
Journey time with NPR
(hr:min) |
Service frequency before NPR
(trains per hour) |
Service frequency with NPR
(trains per hour) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester – Liverpool | 0:37–0:57 | 0:26 | 4 | 6 |
| Manchester – Leeds | 0:46–0:58 | 0:25 | 4 | 6 |
| Manchester – Sheffield | 0:49–0:57 | 0:40 | 2 | 4 |
| Sheffield – Hull | 1:20–1:26 | 0:50 | 1 | 2 |
| Sheffield – Leeds | 0:39–0:42 | 0:28 | 1 | 4 |
| Leeds – Hull | 0:57 | 0:38 | 1 | 2 |
| Leeds – Newcastle | 1:28–1:35 | 0:58 | 3 | 4 |
The Strategic Transport Plan sets out that using planned HS2 infrastructure, junctions could be built to support Northern Powerhouse Rail services. These could be on the:[30]
The Strategic Outline Business Case has been submitted to Government, with further investment decisions likely to be made in the Comprehensive Spending Review. An additional £37 million of funding has been confirmed for 2019/20.[31][32]
Long Term Rail Strategy[33] - TfN has sets out an ambitious vision to transform the North's railway network with new major investment projects and services. Currently, rail is only 1.1% share of total trips in the North, and currently rail passengers are three times higher than 20 years ago, growth of 6.3% per year, while capacity has only increased by an average of 6.45% over the same period.[33]
Minimum standards for the rail network will include:[33]
Through Rail North, the TransPennine Express and Arriva Rail North franchises will transform the North rail network, delivering the ambition and specification set out by TfN. This includes:[34][35]
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Major Road Network for the North[36] – TfN has set out a Major Road Network for the North, which includes Highways England's Strategic Roads Network and local transport authority managed roads. The Major Road Network for the North is around 8,000 km or 7% of the North's roads. This formed key evidence for the Department for Transport's development of a Major Road Network for England. The Major Road Network for the North aims to:[37]
New funding for this network was announced in October 2018 for two schemes;[38]
Strategic Roads Studies[39] – TfN have been undertaking three road studies, with progress updates set out in the draft Strategic Transport Plan:
Integrated and Smart Travel (IST)[42] – a smart ticketing programme to allow seamless travel on public transport across the North. It was proposed that emerging technologies would allow modern payment methods and mobile travel information on all public transport in the North.[42] Paying for journeys would become quicker, easier and more convenient. TfN was delivering a £150 million government-funded programme.[31]
The programme was to be delivered in three phases:[42]
In January 2021 the Department for Transport announced there would be no further UK Government funding for IST, as a result of which the programme will be wound down during 2021/22.[43]
Strategic Development Corridors[44] – identifying transport infrastructure improvements in economic growth areas, where evidence suggests investment in transport infrastructure will enable transformational economic growth. TfN have also stated that these Corridors will prioritise and sequence transport projects that will transform economic growth, promote cost-effectiveness of all modes of transport, explore digital technologies, explore a more efficient use of existing networks and provide capacity to meet the future economic demand, and protect the environment.[45]
Investment Programme
TfN's Investment Programme states that it is seeking to increase investment in strategic transport investment over and above the level. TfN's current estimate of interventions it is promoting could cost between £60 – 70 billion over the next 30 years.[46][47][48] This would consist of additional capital expenditure, over and above the existing investment, of £21–27 billion over the next 30 years (£700 – £900 million per year / £150 per person per year).[49]
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