Inancial support

be lower.

“There is huge potential in the North. If you give passengers a quality service, they will use it.

Don’t underestimate rail,” she told delegates.

Jennings also said the value of the railway needs to be recognised. She said that while this was starting to happen politically, rail doesn’t appear in names and headlines in the national media.

“It’s good for growth, connectivity and freight, it’s good for the potential to unlock jobs across the country, it’s good for zero carbon, and there is potential for rail investment to be higher still,” she argued.

However, Jennings also warned: “We really need government help now regarding the uncertainty. Things are getting pushed back, such as the Williams Review, the Integrated Rail Plan and the Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy.

“Delay costs money. Each month we push back, companies are making decisions about jobs and we’ll lose skills.

“Rail is a long-term investment. We will unlock potential, but we cannot afford to blink. Let’s unlock that potential.”