£600m rail boost for Northern Powerhouse
A MASSIVE £600million rail investment proves the Government is “getting on” with the Northern Powerhouse, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has declared.
The vast majority of the Department for Transport funding will go towards kickstarting 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 around Huddersfield and Leeds.
Mr Shapps described the announcement significant”.
He told said: “People have heard about the Northern Powerhouse for a long time, but here we are actually getting on and doing it.
“These are improvements which will be delivered in the timescale of this Parliament. That means people’s journeys will become easier.” There are further plans for full electrification, digital signalling, more areas with as
“very four tracks and improved freight capacity. This would enable all-electric services between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, York and Newcastle. Mr Shapps said: “It clearly makes sense to be able to run electric-powered trains all the way across.”
The Transport Secretary, also the Northern Powerhouse Minister, will lead a new body designed to speed up transport investment in the region.
The Northern Transport Acceleration Council will consist of mayors and council leaders. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “This feels like a gear-change from the Government in the delivery of transport improvements in the North of England.”