The disparity between northern and southern rail is being addressed, as nearly twice as much money is spent on the transport system in the South than the North
The northern rail investment package sees £415m being spent on rail systems across the Pennines.
Bus, roads, and tram services are also seeing a boost of £1.7bn.
Northern rail investment is another step in the Plan for Change
Alongside the Oxford-Cambridge Arc which was announced earlier this year, the investment is also intended to boost the Liverpool-Hull corridor, and encourage the area into another economic superpower.
The £1.7bn package will go towards rejuvenating the transport system throughout this area, as well as a £415m funding boost for the rail line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, and further support for regional mayors with a £1bn support package and granting further decision-making powers.
This comes alongside a £270m investment in bus services, and a £330m investment in road maintenance across the North. Further funding will contribute to a Mass Transit system for West Yorkshire, a Merseyrail station in the Baltic Triangle, and the redevelopment of the Bury Interchange, specifically the bus and tram connectivity.
Further announcements are expected later today
The PM is visiting a factory in the North of England today (28 March), where he is expected to make these announcements.
Prime minister, Keir Starmer, said: “The North is home to a wealth of talent and ingenuity. But for too long, it has been held to ransom by a Victorian-era transport system which has stifled its potential. I lived in Leeds for years, I get that this has real-world impacts – missed appointments, children late to school, work meetings rescheduled – all leading to insecurity and instability for working people.
“My government won’t stand by and watch. We are rolling up our sleeves, and today’s downpayment for growth is a vote of confidence in the North’s world-beating industries. The film studios in Bradford, life sciences in Liverpool, the fintech industry in Leeds – it is time they had a government on their side to get the North motoring again.
“After years of false promises and under delivery, this government is delivering real change for the North. We are spending double as much on local transport in the North than the South, all done hand-in-hand with our mayors and local leaders. Through our Plan for Change, we are upgrading transport in the North, we are correcting years of unfairness that has gone before, and we are better linking our historic towns and cities. That means boosting living standards, putting more money in the pockets of working people, and restoring pride to communities.”
Chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “The transport system outside of London and the South East has been plagued by delays and cancellations, frustrated by strikes and failing infrastructure because upgrades that were promised were never delivered.
“That ends with our Plan for Change, because reliable and affordable public transport links are essential for kickstarting economic growth and putting more money in people’s pockets across the Midlands and the North.”
An announcement earlier this week showed that Network Rail will be a part of a scheme to free up surplus land for housing.
