£600m rail investment in Transpennine route welcomed

And an organisation to accelerate transport investment in the region has also been announced.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the vast majority of the money will go towards kick-starting the Transpennine Upgrade to electrify most of the line between Manchester and Leeds.

It will also allow faster trains to overtake slower ones by doubling the number of tracks from two to four on the most congested sections.

Changes would allow all-electric services to operate between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, York and Newcastle.

Barry White, Chief Executive of Transport for the North, said: “We are delighted to see the announcement committing £600m to the Transpennine Route Upgrade, a key artery for passengers and freight in the North.

“This is a major step forward and we also welcome the commitment to develop proposals to fully the electrify the line – something that we asked Government to consider. We will continue to make the case for the further substantial investment needed to fully deliver this crucial project.”

Mr White also welcomed the announcement of a Northern Transport Acceleration Council and a DfT North.

He said: “It is important that TfN, reflecting the voice of the 15 million people in the North, and the new organisations work in partnership to build back better and level up.

“We will work with the Government and these new structures to promote faster decisions and speedier investment into the North.”

Transport for the North became England’s first Sub-national Transport Body in April 2018, bringing together the North’s 20 local and combined authorities, as well as business leaders, to speak with one voice on the investment needed.