Calling all stations: why John Healey’s budget is good for London – and its trains

Stratford International is a stupid railway station. Despite its location along the HS1 line connecting London to the Channel Tunnel, no international trains have ever called there. You can go to Gillingham, but not Paris. The station was built hastily in time for the London 2012 Olympics, and rail operators decided that Parisians heading into London wouldn’t grumble too much about not being able to stop off in sunny Stratford; a stop at St Pancras was deemed sufficient.

As such, it has never lived up to its name – until now. Following John Healey’s maiden budget, and after weeks of rumours, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, confirmed the news: “After lobbying on the issue for many years, I’m delighted that the government will help us to bring cross-Channel rail services to Stratford International – making this station truly international for the first time.” Many have labeled Healey’s budget as a boring one – a warm-up budget .

For those of us waiting on tenterhooks for anything transport related, he didn’t promise any flashy new projects. However, plenty of projects may come to fruition because of his fiscal devolution plans, which will unlock local spending on infrastructure projects. This policy promises that devolved regions will be able to reinvest the revenue they receive from taxes and business rates into local projects, without having to apply for grants from central government.

Healey said this gives “greater control over the resources they raise”. It means proposals that have been languishing in funding purgatory – as new transport projects often do – now have a route to fruition. The buck stops locally. It’s a small change, but does a lot to get things moving, and counters Britain’s unhelpful reputation as a country that can’t get anything built (which suffocates investment). During his address, Healey mentioned the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield airport under public ownership, plus other minor transport projects elsewhere in the country.

But, because it creates the most wealth in England, London is the big winner. Khan called it “proper devolution”, and said the policy would unlock various projects in the capital: the West London Orbital, a new Overground line utilising existing tracks; the Bakerloo line extension, from Elephant & Castle to Lewisham; and the Knowledge Quarter project at Euston, which is to support a new HS2 terminal. These schemes have faced embarrassing delays and feel like no-brainers for a city as wealthy as London.

According to Khan, they will support “tens of thousands of new homes, jobs and economic growth”. He’s probably right – and can point to the Elizabeth line and Stratford as evidence. Stratford today is much more than it was in 2012. The Olympics, and the infrastructure developments around them, spurred the construction of housing and entertainment venues throughout the area, all helped by fresh transport links. It is now a destination in and of itself for Londoners and residents across the south east, especially Essex.

Throw in a connection to the continent and Stratford International doesn’t look as silly as it once did. If successful, Kent residents will hope it resurrects the business cases of Ebbsfleet and Ashford, both former international stations that are on the same line. If Burnham likes buses, Healey likes trains. Choo Choo. Related articles: Healey’s ‘inconsequential’ budget is business as usual – unless you’re an entrepreneur No omnishambles to see here: Healey’s ‘breathing space’ budget plays it safe Photograph by Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images Labour Transport London UK Politics Infrastructure Budget Sadiq Khan John Healey