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04
Nov 2021
MP criticises government for not electrifying Harrogate rail line
The Labour MP for Leeds North West, Alex Sobel, has criticised Chancellor Rishi Sunak for not pledging to electrify the Leeds to York via Harrogate rail line in the Budget.
Speaking in Parliament this week, Mr Sobel, who has long campaigned for the line to be electrified, said the Chancellor has missed a "golden opportunity" to "level up" communities in Leeds, Harrogate and York by funding an initiative that would create jobs.
He said:
The campaign to electrify the line goes back a decade and previous efforts have been supported by both Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, and Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough Andrew Jones.
Campaigners believe electrifying the route would allow 35% more trains to run on the line.
Simon Clarke, chief secretary to the Treasury, said during the same Commons debate:
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