Local MP for Beverley and Holderness, and lead sponsor of the bid to restore 32 miles of rail track between Beverley and York, has welcomed the news that the bid is currently being analysed by technical advisers at the Department for Transport (DfT) and Network Rail.
Following this, the bid should be assessed by an expert panel in June, including three Government Ministers, the Chair of Network Rail and Isabel Dedring, former London Deputy Mayor for Transport.
The bid for funding would provide 75% of the costs of a feasibility study, up to a maximum of £50,000. Officials from the DfT will then work alongside the project’s team to develop a detailed business case, the first step towards potentially obtaining funding for the project’s delivery itself.
85 bids were submitted during the Restoring Your Railway Fund’s third round, part of almost 200 bids that have been submitted across all three funding rounds.
Graham said, “Although we missed out in funding in the last round, it was pleasing that the Rail Minister described our bid as having potential. I’ve since met with the Minister for further advice, and we now also have international engineering firm AECOM assisting us.
“This has cross-party support all along the proposed line of route, in recognition of the fact that it would help to relieve traffic congestion and harmful emissions, boost job opportunities and tourism, and free up services on the existing routes out of Hull.”
The funding bid has been supported by MPs in both Hull and York as well as the East Riding, including Dame Diana Johnson, Emma Hardy, David Davis, Julian Sturdy and Rachael Maskell. It is also being supported by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Hull City Council and the City of York Council.
