NORTHERN RAIL HUB

That this House welcomes the growth in rail patronage experienced over the last 10 years and recognises that this has led to a busier network such that there is now a severe lack of capacity in many areas; notes that this lack of capacity is particularly critical across the north of England; further notes that Network Rail has developed the Northern Hub, a scheme to radically improve capacity across the North and stimulate economic growth by allowing for an additional 700 trains a day to travel, generating four billion pounds of benefits to the northern economy and delivering 20,000 to 30,000 extra jobs; is mindful of the benefit cost ratio of the scheme of 4:1 which is exceptional for a scheme of this magnitude; recognises the widespread support the scheme enjoys across the North from representatives of all political parties, the public as well as businesses; and urges the Government to realise the full benefits of the scheme by committing to the delivery of all its constituent parts in full in the period 2014 to 2019.