Multi-billion pound plans to overhaul rail in North of England

 

Plans to overhaul transport across the North of England, including with multi-billion pound rail schemes, are being laid out by the government later.

The Northern Transport Strategy report details what George Osborne believes will create a "northern powerhouse".



It contains a long-term plan to improve road links and speed up train times between major cities.
But the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said the proposals were "yet more pie-in-the-sky nonsense".
The report is being published by the government and the newly formed Transport for the North (TfN).
A range of options for upgrades of existing rail lines or building new lines between key locations are set out.
Proposed new routes in the strategy include:

• Leeds to Newcastle, with new travel times of about 50 minutes - estimated cost £8.5bn to £14bn

• Sheffield to Manchester, and Manchester to Leeds in about 30 minutes - estimated cost £12bn to £19bn
• Liverpool to Manchester, travel times of about 20 minutes (down from 32) - estimated cost £8bn to £13bn

The report also sets out such ideas as developing new east-west road connections, a road tunnel under the Peak District, and introducing smart travel cards and simpler fares across the North.