{"id":62517,"date":"2015-10-06T08:43:00","date_gmt":"2015-10-06T08:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=a1abb5e675e1dac732c868e0b2fd42f8"},"modified":"2015-10-06T08:43:00","modified_gmt":"2015-10-06T08:43:00","slug":"speech-manchester-victoria-station-re-opening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=62517","title":{"rendered":"Speech: Manchester Victoria station re-opening"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

It is a privilege to be here today.<\/p>\n

To declare open a renewed Manchester Victoria station.<\/p>\n

Manchester Victoria has been serving passengers for over 170 years.<\/p>\n

Designed as a grand station for the greatest manufacturing city in the world.<\/p>\n

It is a great station with a great history.<\/p>\n

Yet over recent decades, it had been allowed to decline, as successive governments failed to invest in northern transport.<\/p>\n

By 2009, Manchester Victoria was rated the worst station in Britain; a casualty of the north-south investment divide.<\/p>\n

A station fit for Manchester<\/h2>\n

So 6 years later, and 3 years after work here began, it\u2019s thrilling to see Manchester Victoria.<\/p>\n

Once again a station fit for the city of Manchester.<\/p>\n

No longer a symbol of northern neglect.<\/p>\n

But proof we are building a Northern Powerhouse.\t<\/p>\n

The north is receiving a wave of investment in its transport infrastructure on a scale not seen for generations.<\/p>\n

\u00a34.5 billion in the north west alone.<\/p>\n

This region\u2019s roads and railways, so important for prosperity, are being transformed.<\/p>\n

Everyone who uses Manchester Victoria is getting not just a stunning, upgraded station, but improvements to their journey.<\/p>\n

When we have finished, every line serving this station will have been enhanced with new infrastructure or better services.<\/p>\n

The line to Liverpool has already been electrified, so the journey takes less than 35 minutes.<\/p>\n

We are re-signalling the Calder Valley line to improve journey times and provide for more frequent trains.<\/p>\n

As I speak, a tunnelling machine built in Oldham, and bigger than those used to dig the Channel Tunnel and Crossrail, is boring a new tunnel at Farnworth<\/a> so we can electrify the line between Manchester, Bolton and Preston.<\/p>\n

On the Metrolink, Transport for Greater Manchester is building a 2nd City Crossing from this station, which will increase the capacity and reliability of the Metrolink network.<\/p>\n

And last week I was pleased to announce that work to electrify the TransPennine route to Huddersfield, Leeds and York is to resume<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This picture of change is repeated across the north.<\/p>\n

Over the year to December, over 85 additional carriages will have been added to Northern Rail fleet for services in the north west.<\/p>\n

From 2018, new InterCity Express trains will replace the existing trains on the East Coast Mainline.<\/p>\n

Overall, by the end of 2019, there will be an increase in peak capacity into the big cities of the north of over one third.<\/p>\n

Providing an extra 200 services every day.<\/p>\n

And Pacers will have been removed from the Northern franchise.<\/p>\n

Then looking further ahead, there\u2019s HS2.<\/p>\n

The tendering process for construction has begun.<\/p>\n

And work will start in just 2 years.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

So this magnificent station is the evidence.<\/p>\n

The Northern Powerhouse is being built.<\/p>\n

And the benefits are already being delivered.<\/p>\n

There are 71,000 more businesses in the north west than in 2010: a clear sign our long-term plan to secure a stronger, healthier economy is working.<\/p>\n

So, thank you to Network Rail.<\/p>\n

Transport for Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n

The Railway Heritage Trust.<\/p>\n

The main contractor, Morgan Sindall.<\/p>\n

And the staff of Northern Rail who have kept trains running throughout.<\/p>\n

You have done a brilliant job.<\/p>\n

You have made Manchester Victoria a station for the future.<\/p>\n

I have no doubt that it will continue to serve the people of Manchester for another 170 years.<\/p>\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n