Prime Minister commits to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail

In an interview with ITV News, Prime Minister Liz Truss has committed that her administration will deliver a new East-West rail link across the North of England.

A commitment to delivering the East-West Northern Powerhouse high-speed rail link across the Pennines had been including in the Integrated Rail Plan, published last year by the then-Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. The original plans set out had faced heavy criticism from local leaders in the North of England for relying on upgrades to existing, congested tracks in place of a new route as per HS2. The route also omitted a stop in Bradford, which lacks a regular mainline rail service to London despite being the England’s seventh largest city, and moreover sees the 30 mile journey to Manchester take over an hour by train.

Liz Truss confirmed however that she would set out detailed plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail in the coming weeks. The Prime Minister, who grew up in West Yorkshire, also confirmed plans would see high-speed services pass through Bradford, as well as reaching Hull. Her comments also implied that the route would run on purpose-built new tracks, rather than by upgrading existing lines from Liverpool to Manchester, across the Pennines and throughout Yorkshire.

The region has reacted warmly to the Prime Ministers comments on rail upgrades.

Charlie Cornish, Group CEO at Manchester Airports Group, said:

“The Prime Minister’s renewed commitment to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail in full, including a new line between Liverpool and Hull with a station in Bradford, will help unlock the North’s full potential and drive a rebalancing of the UK economy.

“The priority now must be to be deliver the once-in-a-generation investment as soon as possible, to transform links between the North’s towns and cities, and connectivity with the rest of the world through Manchester Airport.”

Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham also tweeted his support for the move, saying:

“To be fair, this is a u-turn for which the PM deserves real credit. It is the railway that the North of England desperately needs and we will work with [Liz Truss] to make it a reality.”