Can 'dream' of faster trains from Sheffield become reality? Public have their say on £70bn transport master plan

Consultation is underway about Transport for the North's (TfN) Strategic Transport Plan to improve connections across the region by 2050, and people got their chance to quiz the brains behind the proposals at Sheffield City Hall this week,

The draft plan sets out ambitions to significantly speed up rail journeys from Sheffield to Manchester and Leeds, and build a trans-Pennine road tunnel.

Andrew Oldfield, of the Huddersfield, Penistone & Sheffield Rail Users Association, said: "It sounds grand but how much will materialise? We have this nagging feeling that Leeds and Manchester will be top of the pile and Sheffield will be trailing behind yet again."

He criticised the 'glaring omission' from the plan of the former Woodhead rail tunnel, which today carries electric cables across the Pennines, claiming this represents a more realistic option than the existing Hope Valley line of significantly speeding up journey times between Sheffield and Manchester.

Sandra Haith, from Rotherham, was angry that TfN's proposals accepted the HS2 spur to Sheffield station as a 'done deal', despite having yet to be approved by Parliament.

She has collected 8,000 signatures opposing high-speed trains being routed through Bramley, and claimed public demand for a high-speed station at Meadowhall was being overlooked by the decision-makers.

Chris Morgan, of the Friends of Dore & Totley Station, branded the plans for a Sheffield spur 'rubbish' and called for Dore & Totley to be expanded to become a Sheffield south west parkway station.

It wasn't all about trains, though.

Brenda Riley, from Walkley, called for Sheffield's tram network to be extended to serve the Northern General Hospital.

And TfN chief executive Barry White spoke about the plans being drawn up to improve trans-Pennine road connections along the route of the existing Woodhead Pass.

He said it was still being decided whether the route, or part of it, would become a dual carriageway, and how the above ground section would be maintained to ensure it remains open in extreme weather - with under-road heating not having been ruled out.

The consultation runs until April 17. To find out more about the proposals and have your say, visit: https://transportforthenorth.com/stp.

The next consultation event in South Yorkshire will take place at Doncaster-Sheffield Airport on March 21, from 4pm-7pm.