Catherine McKinnell, Member of Parliament for Newcastle North, has led calls in Parliament for the Government to boost investment in the East Coast Main Line. 

The Newcastle North MP, who is a long-time advocate of the East Coast Main Line, founded and now Chairs the All Party East Coast Main Line Group, a cross-party group of parliamentarians that campaigns to improve the Line.

The debate comes against a backdrop of uncertainty over whether the Government will stick to commitments made in its Integrated Rail Plan, and concerns that the planned updates to the East Coast Main Line timetable have stalled. 

Setting out the importance of the Line, Catherine stated that it “is one of the country’s most strategic transport routes, transporting 80 million passengers on their journeys every year and £30bn of freight.” Catherine also highlighted the economic importance of the line, pointing to the fact that “one third of the UK population lives within 20 minutes of an East Coast Main Line station, and the economies in these communities create almost 50% of the UK’s economic output.” 

Arguing that for too many people the East Coast Main Line is not providing the service it should be, Catherine said: “any user of the East Coast Main Line knows that we have seen challenges of delays, cancellations, and that these are caused by capacity constraints and infrastructure shortcomings. Quite frankly, they hold back the Lines’ ability to really grow its passenger market.”

Catherine said that she was “hugely disappointed by the lack of ambition” of the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan, but stated that “the main thing” that the All Party East Coast Main Line Group would like to see is “what has been promised in it actually delivered.” 

Closing the debate, Catherine said that “we need an ambitious, long-term plan from the Government,” warning the Minister that “the promise of funding” had to be delivered so that we can see “our East Coast Main Line, from London to Inverness, fully functioning and meeting its full potential.” 

Commenting after the debate, Catherine said: 

“The East Coast Main Line is a vital artery, yet due to a lack of forward-thinking and ambition, communities are not feeling its full economic benefit.

“Sadly we have seen rail betrayals on HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail and I am really concerned that the promised investment that has been lacking for decades may also now be at risk.