Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis has called for an urgent meeting with Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris, to discuss delays to planned upgrades of the Hope Valley Line.

In a letter to the minister, Jarvis expressed “deep frustration and disappointment” at the delays which could lead to improvements being deferred until 2023.

He wrote: “These upgrades are one of the only remaining undelivered elements of the Northern Hub and an essential pre-requisite for the Northern Powerhouse Rail works. They now need to happen as a matter of urgency.

“With delay being compounded with further delay it is hard to have confidence that this new completion date will be achieved. On that basis I would like to meet with you as soon as possible to discuss how the Department is going to bring real urgency and pace to the project.”

  • For the FULL story, read RAIL 889, out now.

  • For the FULL story on the meeting between Jarvis and Government, read RAIL 890, published on October 23, and available digitally on Android, iPad and Kindle from October 19.