Graham and Luke Campbell (Reform), the recently elected Mayor of Hull and the East Riding, have announced their commitment to working closely together to deliver major improvements for local communities, starting with the long-awaited campaign to reopen the York to Hull railway line and the successful delivery of the £20 million Southern Holderness Fund.
Mayor Luke Campbell has formally backed the proposal to reconnect Hull and Beverley with York, a project long championed by Graham as a transformational opportunity for the region.
The reopening of the line, closed in the 1960s, would provide a vital new link between the Humber and North Yorkshire, unlocking economic opportunities, supporting students and commuters, boosting tourism and investment, and improving regional connectivity.
Graham has championed the project over many years and successfully lobbied for the previous government to fund a £10,000 Outline Business Case under the ‘Restoring Your Railway’ fund, a project since cancelled by the Labour government.
Luke is responsible for creating a strategic transport plan for the region and sees York to Hull Rail as a potential avenue for growth in the area, connecting one of Europe’s busiest ports with North Yorkshire and beyond, as well as dramatically increasing the travel to work area for both cities.
Luke said, “We had a constructive discussion about York to Hull Rail, and I’ve asked my officers to look at how this idea sits within the wider rail picture for Hull and East Yorkshire.
“Local businesses keep stressing that quicker and more reliable links into the national network, with stronger freight and passenger connections, would unlock major benefits for the whole region.
“Graham has shown real commitment over many years in championing better rail options for his constituency, and I respect the persistence he brings to that.
“It’s important that any proposal of this scale is tested properly with Network Rail, DfT/GBR and colleagues in York and North Yorkshire so we can understand where it fits in the wider plan, and I’m keen for our teams to keep exploring that together.”
Graham added, “I’ve been pushing for a railway link between York and Hull for many years and, in Luke, it’s great to have a supporter who has the ability to actually do something to push this railway forward.
“For the long-term future of our region, connecting these two great university cities makes more sense every day. For jobs, for housing, for connectivity and for inward investment, the future of Hull and the East Riding can move forward with York to Hull Rail.”
Roy Begg, Technical Officer for the Minsters Rail Campaign, said, "Graham has been a great champion for the railway and has really helped raise the profile of this strategic project, but the Mayor has the power and the money to move this project forward.
"We at the Minsters Rail Campaign are looking forward to making the case for this railway to Luke and hope to see the railway in his strategic transport plan."
