Graham, a long-standing supporter of the campaign for a new railway link between York and Hull (Minsters Rail), joined Project Manager Roy Begg and top engineering consultant Julian Siddall as they lobbied for support from MPs in Parliament.
Graham was invited by Roy to help drum up support in Parliament, with meetings with MP for Bridlington and the Wolds Charlie Dewhirst, Shadow Transport Secretary Gareth Bacon and Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Rail Martin Vickers.
In a busy day Roy, accompanied by leading transport consultant Julian Sindall (who was contracted by AECOM to work on the initial business case for the railway) made the case to MPs around Parliament.
Shadow Transport Secretary Gareth Bacon is interested in the scheme, not least to connect these two great cities in a style comparable to the South. The A1079 is running far over capacity and the proposed railway could alleviate pressure on that vital trunk road.
The scheme has already attracted the support of MPs Rachael Maskell (Ind, York Central), David Davis MP (Goole and Pocklington), Charlie Dewhirst (Con, Bridlington and the Wolds) Dame Diana Johnson (Lab, Hull North and Cottingham), Emma Hardy (Lab, Hull West and Haltemprice) as well as Cllr Anne Handley (Con, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council) and Cllr Mike Ross (Lib Dem, Leader of Hull City Council).
Luke Campbell (Reform, Mayor of Hull and Eat Yorkshire) and David Skaith (Labour, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire) have not publicly committed to support the project.
The rail link, which would connect the two great Yorkshire universities and create new travel to work areas for both cities, would reverse one of the Beeching Cuts which severed the link between the Minster cities in 1965.
Efforts to revive the link have been ongoing for years, with the campaign receiving a government grant of £10,000 to carry out an Outline Business Case which reported in 2022 as part of the previous Conservative government’s Restoring Your Railway fund, which aimed to open new railway routes for passengers, including the wildly successful Borders Rail and Northumberland Line.
The route would consist of around 30 miles of new railway, connecting Beverley to Market Weighton, Pocklington, Stamford Bridge and York. It would not only reduce the hour-long journey between the cities but relieve the overcrowded A1079 and give the towns and villages along the route new access to the national rail network.
Graham said: “If York and Hull were in the South, the great knowledge economy of York would be connected to the great port of Hull.
“If this line was built it would transform the East Riding by giving people amazing access to jobs in the two cities, new education opportunities and the national rail network.
“Connecting Beverley to York would make our town a better place for everyone, be they families, commuters, tourists or shoppers.
“The Minsters Rail campaign is doing a great job convincing more and more people about the viability of this line.
“It was a privilege to join Roy and Julian in Parliament making the case for this railway.”
Roy Begg, Technical Officer for the Minsters Rail Campaign said: “We’re so grateful to Graham for helping us make the case for the railway in Parliament – and for the support he’s given to the railway over the years.
“People in Beverley, Market Weighton, Pocklington and Stamford Bridge know how filling the missing link could transform our area and improve their lives.
“We need support in Parliament, councils and from Mayors to get there and we’re looking forward to getting just that.”
