Mark Cowland Head Of Rail At EC Harris Comments On The Autumn Statement

“At last the government, through the National infrastructure Plan, recognises the benefit gained to GDP growth through infrastructure investment, but with more and earlier confirmed investment we could have seen further growth in GDP beyond the 3% achieved. It is critical that investment continues, and therefore agglomeration benefits are realised in the regions from these investments.

The Autumn Statement gave us nothing new from a rail perspective – the commitment to re-franchising of Northern Rail and TransPennine Express, along with additional new electric trains – is not new news. This process is already well underway. Whilst passengers are likely to benefit from the franchise process (as has been seen with Abellio’s recent award for the Scotrail franchise) this is disappointingly simply electioneering, playing to the ‘Northern Powerhouse’.”