Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced a major investment in rail lines in the North of England just as most of the network shuts down due to the record temperatures.
A £7bn upgrade to the TransPennine route (TRU) was the key part of the announcement today with a further £959mln also released for the next phase of electrification between Manchester and York.
Shapps said the additional £7bn of spending would make the TRU project a gold standard for rail travel in the UK and deliver on the government’s levelling-up strategy.
“The full route will be fitted with the latest technology, from complete electrification and full digital signalling to increased capacity along the route for passenger and freight services between Huddersfield and Westtown in Dewsbury, doubling tracks from 2 to 4,” said the government statement.
“Once complete, the TRU is expected to deliver multiple benefits, delivering an extra 2 passenger trains every hour and additional hourly freight slots. Upgrades are expected to service more reliable journeys and slash journey times by up to 40%. “
Construction jobs during the build-out will rise to 4,000 from 2,000, Shapps added.
The announcement was overshadowed however by most rail services n the North of England being scrapped or severely curtained today due to the prospect of it being the UK's hottest day on record.
Passengers were again being urged not to travel due to the problems of heat affecting tracks with London and trains from the Capital to the North especially badly affected.
Commuter lines Thameslink and Great Northern are not running north of London, while most trains south of York and Leeds have been cancelled.
Trains south of the Capital are running, but with severe speed restrictions in place while most Tube lines have delays.
Network Rail said people should only travel on Tuesday “if absolutely necessary” while TFL in London added: "Our services are likely to be impacted by the predicted extreme hot weather conditions and we expect delays, cancellations and short notice changes to all our services".