£7 bn boost for bus and rail travellers

Transport revolution to ‘level up’ outside London

COMMUTERS in cities outside London will have their journey times slashed in a £7billion transport overhaul to be announced in next week’s Budget.

Rishi Sunak will promise to fund improvements to rail, tram and bus services so they are more like those in the capital.

Projects will include a £1billion scheme to improve Greater Manchester’s Metrolink, a £1billion expansion of the tram network in the West Midlands and £500million for the same in South Yorkshire.

A £1.2billion nationwide bus improvement programme will see fares made simpler and cheaper so that they resemble those enjoyed by passengers in London.

As well as additional services across weekdays, weekends and evenings, priority measures will be used to speed up journeys on busy roads.

The Chancellor last night said: ‘Great cities need great transport and that is why we’re investing billions to improve connections in our city regions as we level up opportunities across the country.

‘There is no reason why somebody working in the North and Midlands should have to wait several times longer for their bus or train to arrive in the morning compared to a commuter in the capital.

‘This transport revolution will help redress that imbalance as we modernise our local transport networks so they are fit for our great cities and those people who live and work in them.’

The National Infrastructure

Commission has highlighted transport networks as a big weakness of many of England’s city regions. It said that this was hampering productivity, jobs and wages.

According to the Centre for Cities, in the morning rushhour all of the residents of Lyon and four fifths of those in Marseille can reach their city centre in half an hour, but in Birmingham only 35 per cent can.

Schemes that will get funding include an extension of the West Bradford cycle superhighway in West Yorkshire and the expansion of the Merseyrail train network in Liverpool.

Darlington and Middlesbrough railway stations will be upgraded. The West of England will benefit from quicker bus routes between Bristol and Bath thanks to A4 corridor improvements.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘We’re absolutely committed to building back better and boosting regional economies right across the country, and these investments are a clear example of how we’re doing that.

‘Modernising our transport network sits at the heart of our levelling up agenda. This funding will serve as a catalyst for the regeneration of towns and cities by improving infrastructure and ensuring more people have better access to jobs and education.’

The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive additional funding through the Barnet formula, which will be outlined in full at the spending review on Wednesday.

‘Better access to education’