Transport

Developing an evidence-based approach to pan-northern issues is central to the role of the Northern Way, especially for the top priority issue of transport, where our work is all about understanding what the barriers are to productivity growth and the most effective ways of overcoming them.

Produced in 2004, the Northern Way Growth Strategy pre-dated and anticipated the findings of the transport study undertaken for the Government by Sir Rod Eddington by identifying three overarching goals for the North's transport system:

• to improve connectivity within the North's eight city regions
• to improve connectivity between the North's city regions and between the North and the rest of the country and
• enhance access to the North's port and airport international gateways.

Strategic Direction for Transport

In March 2007, the Northern Way published its Strategic Direction for Transport containing analysis and proposals, all firmly rooted in evidence of how transport supports economic growth.  It sets out the interventions needed to maximise growth, while at the same time minimising the impact on the environment.  It is short, medium and long-term strategy looking ahead 20-30 years. 

The Strategic Direction provides evidence about the types and locations of transport investment that will be the most effective when seeking to support productivity growth. This moves beyond the Eddington study's findings by addressing questions of timescales, priorities and the coherence of the policy mix.  It underpinned the transport content of the Northern Way's submission to Government in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007. 

Short, Medium and Long Term Transport Priorities

In September 2007, the Northern Way submitted to Government our short, medium and long term transport priorities looking 20-30 years ahead.  Our identified priorities will bring substantial and worthwhile productivity growth to the North but in terms of their delivery there are important 'strategic gaps' between what is currently planned by stakeholders and what is needed and called for in the Strategic Direction.  Developing the evidence for tackling these strategic gaps in delivery is a key focus for our forward work and is a prime area where the Northern Way is able to add value over and above what can be achieved by regional and city regional bodies acting alone.

Short, Medium and Long Term Transport Priorities Technical Report Summary

In September 2007, the Northern Way submitted to Government our short, medium and long term priorities looking 20-30 years ahead.  This Technical Report sets out the details of how these priorities were developed.

Evidence Based Review of the Growth Prospects of the Northern Ports

The Northern Way has revealed new research showing the market potential to get containers onto rail to and from the North's ports.  The evidence-based report reviews the growth prospects of northern ports.

Northern Way Framework for Identifying Transport Priorities of Pan Northern Economic Significance (RFA Advice)

In early 2006 the three Northern regions submitted their proposals to Government for the use of the transport Regional Funding Allocation.  As an input to the RFA process this work commissioned by the Northern Way examined the potential producitvity impact of schemes being considered for RFA support.

This work informed the subsequent development of the Northern Way's short, medium and long term priorities.

M62 Route Action Plan

With the Highways Agency the Northern commissioned this study to examine at a pre-feasibility level the application of a Route Action Plan to the M62.  It considered the likely benefits planned and committed enhancements and looked at what further measures may be needed to address congestion and journey time unreliability.

Manchester Rail Hub

One of the key transport challenges we highlighted in the Strategic Direction and subsequent Priorities report was the need to develop and then implement a solution to the capacity and capability constraints of the rail network in and around central Manchester (the 'Manchester Hub'). Further work was then undertaken to identify objectives for the Manchester Hub and potential next steps to develop a way forward. That work set out the Northern Way's view of the problems and opportunities around the Manchester Hub. It was shared with the Government, Network Rail and other partners. Responding to this work Transport Minister Rosie Winterton announced in October 2007 a feasibility study to look into rail capacity problems in and around central Manchester. The Manchester Hub Study is being undertaken in two phases overseen by a Department for Transport-chaired Sponsors' Group, the other members being the Northern Way, Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority and Passenger Transport Executive, and Network Rail.  The Manchester Hub Sponsors' Group asked that the Northern Way lead the Phase 1 study. The Manchester Hub Conditional Output Statement has been the primary output of the Phase 1 study. It sets the challenge for the Phase 2 work which is being led by Network Rail.

Evidence of Benefits of High Speed Rail to the North's Economy

In September 2007, the Northern Way published new evidence on the economic impact of investment in better and faster rail links between the North's cities, London and the rest of the UK.  It also called on the Government to act now on its Rail White Paper commitment to consider the case for new rail lines between the North's cities and London.  Through reducing travel times in city-to-city and business-to-business access, the work valued the wider economic benefit of investment in north-south and east-west rail links at over £10billion.

Market Demand for Gauge Enhancements

The Northern Way and Network Rail commissioned work to produce unconstrainted projections for containerised traffic moving by rail to and from Northern Ports.  The study has explored  how drivers of rail demand may change over time and what market mechanisms may bring about such changes.  A scenario-based approach has been applied to develop projections of port future throughput and rail demand.  In response to anticipated changes in the patterns of demand, they reflect the influence that key decision makers in the maritime, logisitcs and retail industries have on the development of the freight industry and the structure of the supply chain.