Graham Stuart MP, an energetic campaigner for the line for many years, has welcomed the completion of the Strategic Outline Business Case for reinstating the York to Hull rail link, known as the Minsters Line, and is asking for residents to let him know what the Minsters Line would mean to them.
This is in advance of the next stage of the campaign for the new Line: an Engineering Study to show how it would be built, so the plan for the Line can be oven-ready.
Now the business case has been submitted, Graham is offering residents the chance to have their say on the Line, so he can make sure the views of residents are heard at the highest levels in Government.
Following submission of the Strategic Outline Business Case, Graham is looking forward to raising the Minsters Line with ministers in the coming weeks and months, as well as meeting with other MPs and Councillors, to ensure this business case gets the attention it deserves.
In October 2021, a partnership of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) and the Minsters Rail Campaign, with Graham as sponsoring MP, was successful in its bid for £50,000 of Government funding to develop a Strategic Outline Business Case for reinstating the Line.
This was part of the Government’s “Restoring Your Railway” Fund – a £500 million commitment to study restoring many of the railways destroyed by the Beeching cuts in the 1960s. With ERYC topping up the Government funding to the £70,000 needed, renowned engineering consultants AECOM were commissioned to undertake the work.
Following the submission of the Strategic Outline Business Case at the end of September, the decision on the next step for this Line, a more detailed business case, is now in the hands of the Department for Transport.
Reinstating the 32-mile Minsters Line would transform the transport connections of Beverley, as well as reconnecting other East Riding towns to the rail network, bringing investment, better access to jobs and services, and benefiting the environment by reducing carbon emissions.
Commenting, Graham Stuart MP said, “We in Beverley, and the surrounding areas, need and deserve this line, which is why I’m so delighted to have worked to get the funding for this fantastic business case.
“The York to Hull line is one of the great tools we have available to level up our region, including Beverley and the surrounding villages.
“But this railway is about more than Beverley. It’s about connecting two of the great Northern cities, York and Hull. Two great university cities, and two centres of innovation.
“The Strategic Outline Business Case shows this line has demand, utility and is environmentally friendly.
“I look forward to hearing what impact the Hull to York Rail Link would make to our community.”
Minster and Woodmansey Councillor, Kerri Harold, said, “I'm reassured that Graham is leading the charge on gaining the views from residents on the progression of the business case for the Beverley to York railway.
“This is hugely important for the infrastructure and economic development for our area.”
