MP calls for rail route be named after Alan Turing

An MP has called for a new train line upgrade to be named after mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing.

Luke Charters, who represents York Outer, asked the Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, whether the new TransPennine York to Manchester line should be renamed as the Turing Line.

Last year, the government announced a £400m funding package for an upgrade to the main line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York, to cut journey times to a little as 63 minutes.

Mr Charters said renaming the route would honour Mr Turing's legacy due to his work on computing at the University of Manchester.

He said: "I'm thrilled to receive support from the Leader of the House on this campaign. Both our constituencies in York Outer and Manchester Central are not only tied together by a strong northern identity, but vital rail infrastructure making it easier for our constituents to travel between our two great cities.

"Alan Turing is one of the most influential people in the history of this country. It would be a fantastic moment for this new rail line to become a tribute to his work - and the historic legacy he has left our great nation – not least following the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

"With two weeks until Pride celebrations begin across the country, this is a fitting time to pay tribute to one of Britain's most influential LGBTQ+ figures."

Powell said it would be "a fitting tribute to consider the TransPennine route or perhaps another railway line being named after him".

While at the Bank of England, Charters was part of the team that helped put Mr Turing on the new £50 banknote.

Mr Turing's efforts in cracking the Enigma code are part of the reason that Britain won World War Two.

In 2017, thousands of men convicted under historic homophobic laws were also posthumously pardoned as part of "Turing's Law".

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